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THE YALE SHAKESPEARE 



Edited by 
Wilbur L. Cross Tucker Brooke 

WlLLARD HlGLEY DURHAM 



Published under the Direction 

of THE 

Department of English, Yale University, 

on the Fund 

Given to the Yale University Press in 1917 

by the Members of the 

Kingsley Trust Association 

To Commemorate the Seventy-Fifth Anniversary 

of the Founding of the Society 



o<Me.H,jM 



• : The Yale Shakespeare '. • 

THE TRAGEDY OF 
ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 

EDITED BY 
HENRY SEIDEL CANBY 




NEW HAVEN • YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS 

LONDON • HUMPHREY MILFORD 
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS • MCMXXI 






1921 
Copyright, Q0Q" 

By Yale University Press 



First published, 1921 




JUL 22 1921 



©CI.A622376 



*Vt-0 



I 



Ci 





CONTENTS 


Page 


The Text . 


.... 


1 


Notes 


...... 


133 


Appendix A. 


The Source of the Play . 


143 


Appendix B. 


The History of the Play . 


145 


Appendix C. 


The Text .... 


148 


Appendix D. 


Suggestions for Collateral Read- 






ing 


150 


Index of Words Glossed .... 


151 



The facsimile opposite represents the opening of ' The 
Life of Marcus Antonius' from the 1595 edition of Sir 
Thomas North's translation of Plutarch. This edition 
is probably that used by Shakespeare. 



THE LIFE OF 

sZManm Antonm. 




I NT0N1VS grandfatherwasthatfamousOratorwhomc*//w7«f 
, flew, becaufc he cookc SyUaes part. His father was an other Antonim 

furnamed*C/?M»,who was not Co famous.nor bareany great fway in 
1 the common wealth: howbeit otherwife he was an honeftman,and 
|ofa very good nature, and fpecially very liberal! in giui ng , as appca- 
)rcih by an a&hcdid. Hewasnotvery wealthy, and therefore his 
t wife would not let him vfehis Iiberalitieand franke naturc.Onedajr 
i a friend of hiscomming to him to prayhimtohelpehim tofome 

money, hauing great neede : ^sfntonitu by chance had no money to 
giue him , but he commaunded one of his men to bring him feme water in a Cluer bafen, and 

after 




■ Friends to Antony 



[DRAMATIS PERSONS 
Mark Antony, \ 

Octavius Cjesar, VTriumvirs 

M. 2Emilius Lepidus, J 
Sextus Pompeius 
Domitius Enobarbus, 
Ventidius, 
Eros, 

ScARUS, 

Dercetas, 

Demetrius, 

Philo, 

M^CENAS, 

Agrippa, 

DoLABELLA, 

Proculeius, 

Thyreus, 

Gallus, 

Menas, 

mene crates, 

Varrius, 

Taurus, Lieut enant-General to Ccesar 

Canidius, Lieut enant-General to Antony 

Sinus, an Officer under Ventidius 

Euphronius, a Schoolmaster 

Alexas, 



Friends to Ccesar 



■Friends to Pompey 



'Attendants on Cleopatra 



Mardian, 
Seleucus, 

DlOMEDES, . 

A Soothsayer 
A Clown 

Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt 

Octavia, Sister to Ccesar, and wife to Antony 

Charmian,1 . . . _, 

T \ Attendants on Cleopatra 

Iras, J r 

Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants 

Scene: In several parts of the Roman Empire] 



The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra 
ACT FIRST 

Scene One 
[Alexandria. A Room in Cleopatra's Palace] 

Enter Demetrius and Philo. 

Phi. Nay, but this dotage of our general's 
O'erflows the measure; those his goodly eyes, 
That o'er the files and musters of the war 
Have glow'd like plated Mars, now bend, now turn 4 
The office and devotion of their view 
Upon a tawny front; his captain's heart, 
Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst 
The buckles on his breast, reneges all temper, 8 
And is become the bellows and the fan 
To cool a gipsy's lust. Look! where they come. 

Flourish. Enter Antony, Cleopatra, her Ladies, the 
Train, with Eunuchs fanning her. 

Take but good note, and you shall see in him 

The triple pillar of the world transform'd 12 

Into a strumpet's fool; behold and see. 

Cleo. If it be love indeed, tell me how much. 
Ant. There's beggary in the love that can be 

reckon'd. 
Cleo. I'll set a bourn how far to be belov'd. 16 
Ant. Then must thou needs find out new heaven, 
new earth. 

4 plated: armored 8 reneges: renounces 

12 triple: one of three; cf. n. 16 bourn: boundary 



■ Friends to Antony 



[DRAMATIS PERSONJE 
Mark Antony, \ 

Octavius Caesar, VTriumvirs 

M. 2Emilius Lepidus, J 
Sextus Pompeius 
Domitius Enobarbus, 
Ventidius, 
Eros, 

ScARUS, 

Dercetas, 

Demetrius, 

Philo, 

maecenas, 
Agrippa, 

DoLABELLA, 

Proculeius, 

Thyreus, 

Gallus, 

Menas, 

Mene crates, 

Varrius, 

Taurus, Lieutenant-General to Ccesar 

Canidius, Lieut enant-General to Antony 

Silius, an Officer under Ventidius 

Euphronius, a Schoolmaster 

Alexas, 



■Friends to Ccesar 



Friends to Pompey 



'Attendants on Cleopatra 



Mardian, 
Seleucus, 

DlOMEDES, 

A Soothsayer 
A Clown 

Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt 

Octavia, Sister to Ccesar, and wife to Antony 

T '\ Attendants on Cleopatra 

Iras, J r 

Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants 

Scene: In several parts of the Roman Empire~\ 



Tlie Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra 
ACT FIRST 

Scene One 

[Alexandria. A Room in Cleopatra's Palace~\ 
Enter Demetrius and Philo. 

Phi. Nay, but this dotage of our general's 
O'erflows the measure; those his goodly eyes, 
That o'er the files and musters of the war 
Have glow'd like plated Mars, now bend, now turn 4 
The office and devotion of their view 
Upon a tawny front; his captain's heart, 
Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst 
The buckles on his breast, reneges all temper, 8 
And is become the bellows and the fan 
To cool a gipsy's lust. Look! where they come. 

Flourish. Enter Antony, Cleopatra, her Ladies, the 
Train, with Eunuchs fanning her. 

Take but good note, and you shall see in him 

The triple pillar of the world transform'd 12 

Into a strumpet's fool; behold and see. 

Cleo. If it be love indeed, tell me how much. 
Ant. There's beggary in the love that can be 

reckon'd. 
Cleo. I'll set a bourn how far to be belov'd. 16 
Ant. Then must thou needs find out new heaven, 
new earth. 

4 plated: armored 8 reneges: renounces 

12 triple: one of three; cf. n. 16 bourn: boundary 



The Tragedy of 



Enter a Messenger. 

Att. News, my good lord, from Rome. 

Ant. Grates me; the sum. 

Cleo. Nay, hear them, Antony: 
Fulvia, perchance, is angry; or, who knows 20 

If the scarce-bearded Caesar have not sent 
His powerful mandate to you, 'Do this, or this; 
Take in that kingdom, and enfranchise that; 
Perform 't, or else we damn thee.' 

Ant. How, my love! 24 

Cleo. Perchance! nay, and most like; 
You must not stay here longer; your dismission 
Is come from Caesar; therefore hear it, Antony. 
Where's Fulvia's process? Caesar's I would say? 
both ? 28 

Call in the messengers. As I am Egypt's queen, 
Thou blushest, Antony, and that blood of thine 
Is Caesar's homager; else so thy cheek pays shame 
When shrill-tongu'd Fulvia scolds. The messen- 
gers ! 32 

Ant. Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch 
Of the rang'd empire fall ! Here is my space. 
Kingdoms are clay; our dungy earth alike 
Feeds beast as man; the nobleness of life 36 

Is to do thus; when such a mutual pair 

[Embracing.'] 
And such a twain can do 't, in which I bind, 
On pain of punishment, the world to weet 
We stand up peerless. 

Cleo. Excellent falsehood! 40 

18 Grates: irritates 

23 Take in: conquer enfranchise: set free 

26 dismission: discharge from office 28 process: command 

31 homager : humble servant 34 rang'd: ordered 

35 d.xm%y:vile 39 weet: know 



Antony and Cleopatra, I. i 3 

Why did he marry Fulvia and not love her? 
I'll seem the fool I am not; Antony 
Will be himself. 

Ant. But stirr'd by Cleopatra. 

Now/for the love of Love and her soft hours, 44 

Let's not confound the time with conference harsh: 
There's not a minute of our lives should stretch 
Without some pleasure now. What sport to-night? 

Cleo. Hear the ambassadors. 

Ant. Fie, wrangling queen! 48 

Whom everything becomes, to chide, to laugh, 
To weep; whose every passion fully strives 
To make itself, in thee, fair and admir'd. 
No messenger, but thine; and all alone, 52 

To-night we'll wander through the streets and note 
The qualities of people. Come, my queen; 
Last night you did desire it: speak not to us. 

Exeunt [Antony and Cleopatra,] with 

the Train. 

Dem. Is Caesar with Antonius priz'd so slight? 56 

Phi. Sir, sometimes, when he is not Antony, 
He comes too short of that great property 
Which still should go with Antony. 

Dem. I am full sorry 

That he approves the common liar, who 60 

Thus speaks of him at Rome; but I will hope 
Of better deeds to-morrow. Rest you happy! 

Exeunt. 

45 confound: consume 58 property: quality 

60 approves: justifies 



The Tragedy of 



Scene Two 

[Another Rooni] 

Enter Enobarbus, Lamprius, a Soothsayer, Rannius, 
Lucillius, Charmian, Iras, Mardian the Eunuch, 
and Alexas. 

Char. Lord Alexas, sweet Alexas, most any- 
thing Alexas, almost most absolute Alexas, 
where's the soothsayer that you praised so to 
the queen? O! that I knew this husband, 4 
which, you say, must charge his horns with 
garlands. 

Alex. Soothsayer! 

Sooth. Your will? 8 

Char. Is this the man ? Is 't you, sir, that 
know things? 

Sooth. In nature's infinite book of secrecy 
A little I can read. 

Alex. Show him your hand. 12 

Eno. Bring in the banquet quickly; wine enough 
Cleopatra's health to drink. 

Char. Good sir, give me good fortune. 

Sooth. I make not, but foresee. 16 

Char. Pray then, foresee me one. 

Sooth. You shall be yet far fairer than you are. 

Char. He means in flesh. 

Iras. No, you shall paint when you are old. 20 

Char. Wrinkles forbid! 

Alex. Vex not his prescience; be attentive. 

Char. Hush! 

Sooth. You shall be more beloving than belov'd. 24 

Scene Two S. d. Rannius, Lucillius; cf. n. 
4-6 O! that I knew . . . garlands; cf. n. 
13 banquet: dessert and wine 



Antony and Cleopatra, I. ii 



Char. I had rather heat my liver with drinking. 
Alex. Nay, hear him. 

Char. Good now, some excellent fortune! 
Let me be married to three kings in a forenoon, 28 
and widow them all ; let me have a child at fifty, 
to whom Herod of Jewry may do homage; find 
me to marry me with Octavius Caesar, and com- 
panion me with my mistress. 32 
Sooth. You shall outlive the lady whom you serve. 
Char. O excellent! I love long life better than 

figs. 
Sooth. You have seen and prov'd a fairer former 

fortune 
Than that which is to approach. 36 

Char. Then, belike, my children shall have 
no names; prithee, how many boys and wenches 
must I have? 

Sooth. If every of your wishes had a womb, 40 
And fertile every wish, a million. 

Char. Out, fool! I forgive thee for a witch. 

Alex. You think none but your sheets are 
privy to your wishes. 44 

Char. Nay, come, tell Iras hers. 

Alex. We'll know all our fortunes. 

Eno. Mine, and most of our fortunes, to- 
night, shall be, — drunk to bed. 48 

Iras. There's a palm presages chastity, if 
nothing else. 

Char. E'en as the o'erflowing Nilus presageth 
famine. 52 

Iras. Go, you wild bedfellow, you cannot 
soothsay. 

Char. Nay, if an oily palm be not a fruitful 



30 Herod of Jewry; cf. n. 

31 marry . . . Caesar; cf. n. on V. ii. 16S 



The Tragedy of 



prognostication, I cannot scratch mine ear. 56 
Prithee, tell her but a worky-day fortune. 

Sooth. Your fortunes are alike. 

Iras. But how? but how? give me particulars. 

Sooth. I have said. 60 

Iras. Am I not an inch of fortune better 
than she? 

Char. Well, if you were but an inch of for- 
tune better than I, where would you choose it ? 64 

Iras. Not in my husband's nose. 

Char. Our worser thoughts heaven mend! 
Alexas, — come, his fortune, his fortune. O ! 
let him marry a woman that cannot go, sweet 68 
Isis, I beseech thee ; and let her die too, and give 
him a worse ; and let worse follow worse, till the 
worst of all follow him laughing to his grave, 
fifty-fold a cuckold! Good Isis, hear me this 72 
prayer, though thou deny me a matter of more 
weight; good Isis, I beseech thee! 

Iras. Amen. Dear goddess, hear that prayer 
of the people ! for, as it is a heart-breaking to see 76 
a handsome man loose-wived, so it is a deadly 
sorrow to behold a foul knave uncuckolded: 
therefore, dear Isis, keep decorum, and fortune 
him accordingly ! 80 

Char. Amen. 

Alex. Lo, now! if it lay in their hands to 
make me a cuckold, they would make themselves 
whores, but they'd do 't ! 84 



Enter Cleopatra. 
Eno. Hush ! here comes Antony. 



57 worky-day: ordinary 

68 that cannot go: that cannot have children 

72 cuckold: husband with an unfaithful wife; cf. n. on I. ii. 4-6 



Antony and Cleopatra, I. it 



Char. Not he; the queen. 

Cleo. Saw you my Lord? 

Eno. So, Jady. 

Cleo. Was be net here? 88 

Char. So, madam. 

Cleo. He was dispos'd to mirth; but on the sudden 
A Roman thought bath struck him. Enobarbuf ! 
Eno. Madam! 92 

Cleo. Seek him, and bring him hither. Where's 

A lex as? 
Alex. Here, at your service. My Jord approaches. 

Enter Antony, with a Messenger [and Attendants]. 

(Jieo. We will not look upon hirn; go with us. 

Exeunt [Cleopatra, Enobarhus, Alexas, Iras, 
Charmian, Soothsayer, and Attendants], 

Mess. I'uJvia thy wife first came into the field. 96 

Ant. Against my brother Lucius? 

Mess. Ay: 
But soon that war had end, and the time's state 
Made friends of them, jointing their force 'gainst 
Caesar, 100 

Whose; better issue in the war, from Italy 
Upon the first encounter drave them. 

Ant. Well, what worst? 

Mess. The nature of bad news infects the teller. 

Ant. When it concerns the fool, or coward. On; 104 
Things that are past are done with me. 'Tis thus: 
Who tells me true, though in his tale lay death, 
I hear him as he flatter'd. 

Mess. Labienus — 

This is stiff news — hath, with his Parthian force 108 
Extended Asia; from Euphrates 
J lis conquering banner shook from Syria 

10] issue: fortune 107 as: as if Labienus; cf. ». 



8 The Tragedy of 

To Lydia and to Ionia: whilst — 

Ant. Antony, thou wouldst say, — 112 

Mess. O ! my lord. 

Ant. Speak to me home, mince not the general 
tongue ; 
Name Cleopatra as she is call'd in Rome; 
Rail thou in Fulvia's phrase ; and taunt my faults 116 
With such full licence as both truth and malice 
Have power to utter. O ! then we bring forth weeds 
When our quick minds lie still ; and our ills told us 
Is as our earing. Fare thee well awhile. 120 

Mess. At your noble pleasure. Exit Messenger, 

Ant. From Sicyon, ho, the news! Speak there! 

{First Att.] The man from Sicyon, is there such 
an one? 

[Sec. Att.] He stays upon your will. 

Ant. Let him appear. 124 

These strong Egyptian fetters I must break, 
Or lose myself in dotage. 

Enter another Messenger, with a letter. 

What are you? 
[Sec. Mess.~\ Fulvia thy wife is dead. 
Ant. Where died she? 

[Sec. Me**.] In Sicyon: 128 

Her length of sickness, with what else more serious 
Importeth thee to know, this bears. 

[Giving a letter."] 
Ant. Forbear me. 

[Exit Second Messenger."} 
There's a great spirit gone! Thus did I desire it: 
What our contempts do often hurl from us 132 

We wish it ours again ; the present pleasure, 

120 earing: ploughing 

133-135 the present pleasure . . . itself; cf. n. 



Antony and Cleopatra, I. ii 



9 



By revolution lowering, does become 

The opposite of itself: she's good, being gone; 

The hand could pluck her back that shov'd her on. 136 

I must from this enchanting queen break off; 

Ten thousand harms, more than the ills I know, 

My idleness doth hatch. How now ! Enobarbus ! 

Enter Enobarbus. 

Eno. What's your pleasure, sir? 140 

Ant. I must with haste from hence. 

Eno. Why, then, we kill all our women. We 
see how mortal an unkindness is to them; if 
they suffer our departure, death's the word. 144 

Ant. I must be gone. 

Eno. Under a compelling occasion let women 
die. It were pity to cast them away for nothing; 
though between them and a great cause they 148 
should be esteemed nothing. Cleopatra, catch- 
ing but the least noise of this, dies instantly; I 
have seen her die twenty times upon far poorer 
moment. I do think there is mettle in death 152 
which commits some loving act upon her, she 
hath such a celerity in dying. 

Ant. She is cunning past man's thought. 

Eno. Alack! sir, no; her passions are made 156 
of nothing but the finest part of pure love. We 
cannot call her winds and waters sighs and 
tears; they are greater storms and tempests 
than almanacs can report : this cannot be 160 
cunning in her; if it be, she makes a shower of 
rain as well as Jove. 

Ant. Would I had never seen her! 

Eno. O, sir ! you had then left unseen a won- 164 
derful piece of work which not to have been 
blessed withal would have discredited your travel. 



io The Tragedy of 

Ant. Ful via is dead. 

Eno. Sir? 168 

Ant. Ful via is dead. 
Eno. Fulvia! 
Ant. Dead. 

Eno. Why, sir, give the gods a thankful sacri- 172 
fice. When it pleaseth their deities to take the 
wife of a man from him, it shows to man the 
tailors of the earth; comforting therein, that 
when old robes are worn out, there are members 176 
to make new. If there were no more women 
but Fulvia, then had you indeed a cut, and the 
case to be lamented: this grief is crowned with 
consolation ; your old smock brings forth a new 180 
petticoat; and indeed the tears live in an onion 
that should water this sorrow. 
Ant. The business she hath broached in the state 
Cannot endure my absence. 184 

Eno. And the business you have broached 
here cannot be without you; especially that of 
Cleopatra's, which wholly depends on your 
abode. 188 

Ant. No more light answers. Let our officers 
Have notice what we purpose. I shall break 
The cause of our expedience to the queen, 
And get her leave to part. For not alone 192 

The death of Fulvia, with more urgent touches, 
Do strongly speak to us, but the letters too 
Of many our contriving friends in Rome 
Petition us at home. Sextus Pompeius 196 

Hath given the dare to Caesar, and commands 
The empire of the sea; our slippery people — 
Whose love is never link'd to the deserver 

180 smock: an inner garment worn by women 

183 broached: begun 191 expedience: expedition 



Antony and Cleopatra, I. Hi n 

Till his deserts are past — begin to throw 200 

Pompey the Great and all his dignities 
Upon his son; who, high in name and power, 
Higher than both in blood and life, stands up 
For the main soldier, whose quality, going on, 204 
The sides o' the world may danger. Much is breed- 
ing, 
Which, like the courser's hair, hath yet but life, 

And not a serpent's poison. Say, our pleasure, 
To such whose place is under us, requires 208 

Our quick remove from hence. 

Eno. I shall do it. [Exeunt.] 

. 

Scene Three 

[Another Room] 
Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Alexas, and Iras. 

Cleo. Where is he? 

Char. I did not see him since. 

Cleo. See where he is, who's with him, what he 
does; 
I did not send you: if you find him sad, 
Say I am dancing; if in mirth, report 4 

That I am sudden sick: quick, and return. 

[Exit Alexas.] 
Char. Madam, methinks, if you did love him 
dearly, 
You do not hold the method to enforce 
The like from him. 

Cleo. What should I do, I do not? 8 

Char. In each thing give him way, cross him in 
nothing. 

204 main: chief quality: character 

206 the courser's hair; cf. n. 



12 The Tragedy of 

Cleo. Thou teachest like a fool: the way to lose 
him. 

Char. Tempt him not so too far; I wish, forbear: 
In time we hate that which we often fear. 12 

But here comes Antony. 

Enter Antony. 

Cleo. I am sick and sullen. 

Ant. I am sorry to give breathing to my purpose, — 

Cleo. Help me away, dear Charmian, I shall fall: 
It cannot be thus long, the sides of nature 16 

Will not sustain it. 

Ant. Now, my dearest queen, — 

Cleo. Pray you, stand further from me. 

Ant. What's the matter? 

Cleo. I know, by that same eye, there's some good 
news. 
What says the married woman? You may go? 20 
Would she had never given you leave to come ! 
Let her not say 'tis I that keep you here; 
I have no power upon you; hers you are. 

Ant. The gods best know, — 

Cleo. O ! never was there queen 24 

So mightily betray'd; yet at the first 
I saw the treasons planted. 

Ant. Cleopatra, — 

Cleo. Why should I think you can be mine and 
true, 
Though you in swearing shake the throned gods, 28 
Who have been false to Fulvia ? Riotous madness, 
To be entangled with those mouth-made vows, 
Which break themselves in swearing! 

Ant. Most sweet queen, — 

Cleo. Nay, pray you, seek no colour for your 
going, 32 



Antony and Cleopatra, I. in 13 

But bid farewell, and go: when you su'd staying 

Then was the time for words; no going then: 

Eternity was in our lips and eyes, 

Bliss in our brows bent; none our parts so poor 36 

But was a race of heaven. They are so still, 

Or thou, the greatest soldier of the world, 

Art turn'd the greatest liar. 

Ant. How now, lady! 

Cleo. I would I had thy inches; thou shouldst 
know 40 

There were a heart in Egypt. 

Ant. Hear me, queen: 

The strong necessity of time commands 
Our services awhile, but my full heart 
Remains in use with you. Our Italy 44 

Shines o'er with civil swords; Sextus Pompeius 
Makes his approaches to the port of Rome; 
Equality of two domestic powers 
Breeds scrupulous faction. The hated, grown to 
strength, 48 

Are newly grown to love; the condemn'd Pompey, 
Rich in his father's honour, creeps apace 
Into the hearts of such as have not thriv'd 
Upon the present state, whose numbers threaten ; 52 
And quietness, grown sick of rest, would purge 
By any desperate change. My more particular, 
And that which most with you should safe my going, 
Is Fulvia's death. 56 

Cleo. Though age from folly could not give me 
freedom, 
It does from childishness: can Fulvia die? 

Ant. She's dead, my queen: 

33 su'd staying: begged to stay 

36 brows bent: the arch of the eyebrows 

48 scrupulous faction: cautious party strife 

S3 purge: restore itself to activity, seek cure 55 safe: make safe 



14 The Tragedy of 

Look here, and at thy sovereign leisure read 60 

The garboils she awak'd; at the last, best, 
See when and where she died. 

Cleo. O most false love ! 

Where be the sacred vials thou shouldst fill 
With sorrowful water? Now I see, I see, 64 

In Fulvia's death, how mine receiv'd shall be. 

Ant. Quarrel no more, but be prepar'd to know 
The purposes I bear, which are or cease 
As you shall give the advice. By the fire 68 

That quickens Nilus' slime, I go from hence 
Thy soldier, servant, making peace or war 
As thou affect' st. 

Cleo. Cut my lace, Charmian, come; 

But let it be: I am quickly ill, and well; 72 

So Antony loves. 

Ant. My precious queen, forbear, 

And give true evidence to his love which stands 
An honourable trial. 

Cleo. So Fulvia told me. 

I prithee, turn aside and weep for her; 76 

Then bid adieu to me, and say the tears 
Belong to Egypt: good now, play one scene 
Of excellent dissembling, and let it look 
Like perfect honour. 

Ant. You'll heat my blood; no more. 80 

Cleo. You can do better yet, but this is meetly. 

Ant. Now, by my sword, — 

Cleo. And target. Still he mends; 

But this is not the best. Look, prithee, Charmian, 
How this Herculean Roman does become 84 

The carriage of his chafe. 

61 garboils: brawls 68, 69 By the fire . . . slime; cf. n. 

71 affect'st: art inclined 81 meetly: fairly good 

82 target : shield 84,85 How this Herculean . . . chafe; cf. n. 



Antony and Cleopatra, Z. iv 15 

Ant. I'll leave you, lady. 

Cleo. Courteous lord, one word. 

Sir, you and I must part, but that's not it: 
Sir, you and I have lov'd, but there's not it; 88 

That you know well: something it is I would, — 
O! my oblivion is a very Antony, 
And I am all forgotten. 

Ant. But that your royalty 

Holds idleness your subject, I should take you 92 
For idleness itself. 

Cleo. 'Tis sweating labour 

To bear such idleness so near the heart 
As Cleopatra this. But, sir, forgive me, 
Since my becomings kill me when they do not 96 

Eye well to you. Your honour calls you hence; 
Therefore be deaf to my unpitied folly, 
And all the gods go with you ! Upon your sword 
Sit laurel victory ! and smooth success 100 

Be strew'd before your feet ! 

Ant. Let us go. Come; 

Our separation so abides and flies, 
That thou, residing here, go'st yet with me, 
And I, hence fleeting, here remain with thee. 104 

Away ! Exeunt. 

Scene Four 
[Rome. A Room in Ccesars House] 

Enter Octavius [Ccesar], reading a letter, Lepidus, 
and their Train. 

Cces. You may see, Lepidus, and henceforth know, 
It is not Caesar's natural vice to hate 

90, 91 O! my oblivion . . . forgotten; cf. n. 

96 becomings: graces 97 Eye well: look well 



16 The Tragedy of 

Our great competitor. From Alexandria 
This is the news: he fishes, drinks, and wastes 4 

The lamps of night in revel; is not more manlike 
Than Cleopatra, nor the queen of Ptolemy- 
More womanly than he; hardly gave audience, or 
Vouchsaf'd to think he had partners: you shall find 

there 8 

A man who is the abstract of all faults 
That all men follow. 

Lep. I must not think there are 

Evils enow to darken all his goodness; 
His faults in him seem as the spots of heaven, 12 
More fiery by night's blackness; hereditary 
Rather than purchas'd; what he cannot change 
Than what he chooses. 

Cces. You are too indulgent. Let us grant it is not 
Amiss to tumble on the bed of Ptolemy, 
To give a kingdom for a mirth, to sit 
And keep the turn of tippling with a slave, 
To reel the streets at noon, and stand the buffet 20 
With knaves that smell of sweat; say this becomes 

him, — 
As his composure must be rare indeed 
Whom these things cannot blemish, — yet must Antony 
No way excuse his foils, when we do bear 24 

So great weight in his lightness. If he fill'd 
His vacancy with his voluptuousness, 
Full surfeits and the dryness of his bones 
Call on him for 't ; but to confound such time 28 

That drums him from his sport, and speaks as loud 
As his own state and ours, 'tis to be chid 
As we rate boys, who, being mature in knowledge, 

3 competitor: partner 11 enow: enough 

19 keep the turn of: to take turns at 22 composure: disposition 

24 foils: disgraces; cf. n. 31 rate: scold 



Antony and Cleopatra, I. iv i? 

Pawn their experience to their present pleasure, 32 
And so rebel to judgment. 

Enter a Messenger. 

Lep. Here's more news. 

Mess. Thy biddings have been done, and every 
hour, 
Most noble Caesar, shalt thou have report 
How 'tis abroad. Pompey is strong at sea, 36 

And it appears he is belov'd of those 
That only have fear'd Caesar; to the ports 
The discontents repair, and men's reports 
Give him much wrong'd. 

Cces. I should have known no less. 40 

It hath been taught us from the primal state, 
That he which is was wish'd until he were; 
And the ebb'd man, ne'er lov'd till ne'er worth love, 
Comes dear'd by being lack'd. This common body, 44 
Like to a vagabond flag upon the stream, 
Goes to and back, lackeying the varying tide, 
To rot itself with motion. 

Mess. Caesar, I bring thee word, 

Menecrates and Menas, famous pirates, 48 

Make the sea serve them, which they ear and wound 
With keels of every kind: many hot inroads 
They make in Italy; the borders maritime 
Lack blood to think on 't, and flush youth revolt ; 52 
No vessel can peep forth, but 'tis as soon 
Taken as seen; for Pompey's name strikes more 
Than could his war resisted. 

Cces. Antony, 

Leave thy lascivious wassails. When thou once 56 

44 Comes dear'd: becomes valued 
46 lackeying: following closely like a lackey 
52 Lack blood: grow pale flush: vigorous 

56 wassails: revelry 



18 The Tragedy of 

Wast beaten from Modena, where thou slew'st 

Hirtius and Pansa, consuls, at thy heel 

Did famine follow, whom thou fought'st against, 

Though daintily brought up, with patience more 60 

Than savages could suffer; thou didst drink 

The stale of horses and the gilded puddle 

Which beasts would cough at; thy palate then did 

deign 

The roughest berry on the rudest hedge; 64 

Yea, like the stag, when snow the pasture sheets, 
The barks of trees thou browsed'st; on the Alps 
It is reported thou didst eat strange flesh, 
Which some did die to look on; and all this — 68 

It wounds thy honour that I speak it now — 
Was borne so like a soldier, that thy cheek 
So much as lank'd not. 

Lep. 'Tis pity of him. 

Cass. Let his shames quickly 72 

Drive him to Rome. 'Tis time we twain 
Did show ourselves i' the field; and to that end 
Assemble we immediate council; Pompey 
Thrives in our idleness. 

Lep. To-morrow, Caesar, 76 

I shall be furnish'd to inform you rightly 
Both what by sea and land I can be able 
To front this present time. 

Cces. Till which encounter, 

It is my business too. Farewell. 80 

Lep. Farewell, my lord. What you shall know 
meantime 
Of stirs abroad, I shall beseech you, sir, 
To let me be partaker. 

62 stale: urine gilded: of a golden color 

71 lank'd not: did not become shrunken 



Antony and Cleopatra, I.v 19 

Cats. Doubt not, sir ; 

I knew it for my bond. Exeunt. 



Scene Five 

[Alexandria. A Room in the Palace] 

Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Mardian. 

Cleo. Charmian! 

Char. Madam! 

Cleo. Ha, ha ! 
Give me to drink mandragora. 

Char. Why, madam? 4 

Cleo. That I might sleep out this great gap of 
time 
My Antony is away. 

Char. You think of him too much. 

Cleo. ! 'tis treason. 

Char. Madam, I trust, not so. 

Cleo. Thou, eunuch Mardian! 

Mar. What's your highness' pleasure? 8 

Cleo. Not now to hear thee sing ; I take no pleasure 
In aught a eunuch has. 'Tis well for thee, 
That, being unseminar'd, thy freer thoughts 
May not fly forth of Egypt. Hast thou affections ? 12 

Mar. Yes, gracious madam. 

Cleo. Indeed! 

Mar. Not in deed, madam; for I can do nothing 
But what in deed is honest to be done; 16 

Yet have I fierce affections, and think 
What Venus did with Mars. 

Cleo. O Charmian! 

4 mandragora: mandrake, a narcotic 11 unseminar'd: ansexed 



20 The Tragedy of 

Where think'st thou he is now? Stands he, or sits 

he? 
Or does he walk? or is he on his horse? 20 

O happy horse, to bear the weight of Antony ! 
Do bravely, horse, for wot'st thou whom thou mov'st? 
The demi-Atlas of this earth, the arm 
And burgonet of men. He's speaking now, 24 

Or murmuring 'Where's my serpent of old Nile?' 
For so he calls me. Now I feed myself 
With most delicious poison. Think on me, 
That am with Phoebus' amorous pinches black, 28 
And wrinkled deep in time? Broad-fronted Caesar, 
When thou wast here above the ground I was 
A morsel for a monarch, and great Pompey 
Would stand and make his eyes grow in my brow ; 32 
There would he anchor his aspect and die 
With looking on his life. 

Enter Alexas. 

Alex. Sovereign of Egypt, hail! 

Cleo. How much unlike art thou Mark Antony ! 
Yet, coming from him, that great medicine hath 36 
With his tinct gilded thee. 
How goes it with my brave Mark Antony? 

Alex. Last thing he did, dear queen, 
He kiss'd, the last of many doubled kisses, 40 

This orient pearl. His speech sticks in my heart. 

Cleo. Mine ear must pluck it thence. 

Alex. 'Good friend,' quoth he, 

'Say, the firm Roman to great Egypt sends 
This treasure of an oyster; at whose foot, 44 

To mend the petty present, I will piece 

22 wot'st: knozvest 24 burgonet: steel cap 

29 Broad-fronted: zmth a broad forehead 

33 aspect: look 37 tinct: color 



Antony and Cleopatra, I.v 21 

Her opulent throne with kingdoms ; all the east, 
Say thou, shall call her mistress.' So he nodded, 
And soberly did mount an arm-gaunt steed, 48 

Who neigh'd so high that what I would have spoke 
Was beastly dumb'd by him. 

Cleo. What was he, sad or merry? 

Alex. Like to the time o' the year between the 
extremes 
Of hot and cold; he was nor sad nor merry. 52 

Cleo. O well-divided disposition! Note him, 
Note him, good Charmian, 'tis the man; but note 

him: 
He was not sad, for he would shine on those 
That make their looks by his; he was not merry, 56 
Which seem'd to tell them his remembrance lay 
In Egypt with his joy; but between both: 
O heavenly mingle ! Be'st thou sad or merry, 
The violence of either thee becomes, 60 

So does it no man else. Mett'st thou my posts? 

Alex. Ay, madam, twenty several messengers. 
Why do you send so thick? 

Cleo. Who's born that day 

When I forget to send to Antony, 64 

Shall die a beggar. Ink and paper, Charmian. 
Welcome, my good Alexas. Did I, Charmian, 
Ever love Caesar so? 

Char. O ! that brave Caesar. 

Cleo. Be chok'd with such another emphasis ! 68 
Say the brave Antony. 

Char. The valiant Caesar! 

Cleo. By Isis, I will give thee bloody teeth, 
If thou with Caesar paragon again 
My man of men. 

48 arm-gaunt: with gaunt limbs (?) ; cf. n. 71 paragon: compare 



22 The Tragedy of 

Char. By your most gracious pardon, 72 

I sing but after you. 

Cleo. My salad days, 

When I was green in judgment, cold in blood, 
To say as I said then! But come, away; 
Get me ink and paper: 76 

He shall have every day a several greeting, 
Or 111 unpeople Egypt. Exeunt. 



ACT SECOND 

Scene One 
[Messina. A Room in Pompey's House] 

Enter Pompey, Menecrates, and Menas, in 
warlike manner. 

Pom. If the great gods be just, they shall assist 
The deeds of justest men. 

Mene. Know, worthy Pompey, 

That what they do delay, they not deny. 

Pom. Whiles we are suitors to their throne, de- 
cays 4 
The thing we sue for. 

Mene. We, ignorant of ourselves, 

Beg often our own harms, which the wise powers 
Deny us for our good; so find we profit 
By losing of our prayers. 

Pom. I shall do well: 8 

The people love me, and the sea is mine ; 
My powers are crescent, and my auguring hope 

73 salad days: days of youthful inexperience 
10 crescent: growing (like the cresent moon) 
auguring: prophesying 



Antony and Cleopatra, II. i 23 

Says it will come to the full. Mark Antony 

In Egypt sits at dinner, and will make 12 

No wars without doors; Caesar gets money where 

He loses hearts; Lepidus flatters both, 

Of both is flatter'd; but he neither loves, 

Nor either cares for him. 

Men. Caesar and Lepidus 16 

Are in the field; a mighty strength they carry. 

Pom. Where have you this ? 'tis false. 

Men. From Silvius, sir. 

Pom. He dreams; I know they are in Rome to- 
gether, 
Looking for Antony. But all the charms of love, 20 
Salt Cleopatra, soften thy wan'd lip ! 
Let witchcraft j oin with beauty, lust with both ! 
Tie up the libertine in a field of feasts, 
Keep his brain fuming; Epicurean cooks 24 

Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite, 
That sleep and feeding may prorogue his honour 
Even till a Lethe'd dulness ! 

Enter Varrius. 

How now, Varrius ! 

Far. This is most certain that I shall deliver: 28 
Mark Antony is every hour in Rome 
Expected; since he went from Egypt 'tis 
A space for farther travel. 

Pom. I could have given less matter 

A better ear. Menas, I did not think 32 

This amorous surfeiter would have donn'd his helm 
For such a petty war; his soldiership 
Is twice the other twain. But let us rear 
The higher our opinion, that our stirring 36 

21 Salt: wanton wan'd: withered 

26 prorogue : defer; cf. n. 36 opinion : self-esteem 



24 The Tragedy of 

Can from the lap of Egypt's widow pluck 
The ne'er-lust-wearied Antony. 

Men. I cannot hope 

Caesar and Antony shall well greet together ; 
His wife that's dead did trespasses to Caesar, 40 

His brother warr'd upon him, although I think 
Not mov'd by Antony. 

Pom. I know not, Menas, 

How lesser enmities may give way to greater. 
Were 't not that we stand up against them all 44 

'Twere pregnant they should square between them- 
selves, 
For they have entertained cause enough 
To draw their swords ; but how the fear of us 
May cement their divisions and bind up 48 

The petty difference, we yet not know. 
Be it as our gods will have 't ! It only stands 
Our lives upon, to use our strongest hands. 
Come, Menas. Exeunt. 



Scene Two 

[Rome. A Room in Lepidus' House~\ 

Enter Enobarbus and Lepidus. 

Lep. Good Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed, 
And shall become you well, to entreat your captain 
To soft and gentle speech. 

Eno. I shall entreat him 

To answer like himself: if Caesar move him, 
Let Antony look over Caesar's head, 
And speak as loud as Mars. By Jupiter, 

45 pregnant: obvious square: quarrel 



Antony and Cleopatra^ II, ii 25 

Were I the wearer of Antonius' beard, 
I would not shave 't to-day. 

Lep. 'Tis not a time 8 

For private stomaching. 

Eno. Every time 

Serves for the matter that is then born in 't. 

Lep. But small to greater matters must give way. 

Eno. Not if the small come first. 

Lep. Your speech is passion; 12 

But, pray you, stir no embers up. Here comes 
The noble Antony. 

Enter Antony and Ventidius. 

Eno. And yonder, Caesar. 

Enter Ccesar, Maecenas, and Agrippa. 

Ant. If we compose well here, to Parthia: 
Hark ye, Ventidius. 

Cats. , I do not know, 16 

Maecenas; ask Agrippa. 

Lep. Noble friends, 

That which combin'd us was most great, and let not 
A leaner action rend us. What's amiss, 
May it be gently heard; when we debate 20 

Our trivial difference loud, we do commit 
Murder in healing wounds; then, noble partners, — 
The rather for I earnestly beseech, — 
Touch you the sourest points with sweetest terms, 24 
Nor curstness grow to the matter. 

Ant. 'Tis spoken well. 

Were we before our armies, and to fight, 
I should do thus. Flourish. 

Cces. Welcome to Rome. 28 

7, 8 Were I the wearer . . . to-day; cf. n. 

9 stomaching: resenting 15 compose: come to a settlement 

25 curstness: ill humor 27 I should do thus; cf. n. 



26 The Tragedy of 

Ant. Thank you. 

Cobs. Sit. 

Ant. Sit, sir. 

Cces. Nay, then. 32 

Ant. I learn, you take things ill which are not so, 
Or being, concern you not. 

Cces. I must be laugh' d at 

If, or for nothing or a little, I 

Should say myself offended, and with you 36 

Chiefly i' the world; more laugh'd at that I should 
Once name you derogately, when to sound your name 
It not concern'd me. 

Ant. My being in Egypt, Caesar, 

What was 't to you ? 40 

Cces. No more than my residing here at Rome 
Might be to you in Egypt; yet, if you there 
Did practise on my state, your being in Egypt 
Might be my question. 

Ant. How intend you, practis'd? 44 

Cces. You may be pleas'd to catch at mine intent 
By what did here befall me. Your wife and brother 
Made wars upon me, and their contestation 
Was theme for you, you were the word of war. 48 

Ant. You do mistake your business; my brother 
never 
Did urge me in his act: I did inquire it; 
And have my learning from some true reports, 
That drew their swords with you. Did he not 
rather 52 

Discredit my authority with yours, 
And make the wars alike against my stomach, 
Having alike your cause? Of this my letters 

43 practise on: plot against state: government 

44 intend: mean 46-48 Your wife and brother . . . war; cf. n. 
54 stomach: inclination 



Antony and Cleopatra, II. ii 27 

Before did satisfy you. If you'll patch a quarrel, 56 
As matter whole you have not to make it with, 
It must not be with this. 

Cess. You praise yourself 

By laying defects of judgment to me, but 
You patch'd up your excuses. 

Ant. Not so, not so; 60 

I know you could not lack, I am certain on 't, 
Very necessity of this thought, that I, 
Your partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought, 
Could not with graceful eyes attend those wars 64 
Which fronted mine own peace. As for my wife, 
I Would you had her spirit in such another: 
The third o' the world is yours, which with a snaffle 
You may pace easy, but not such a wife. 68 

Eno. Would we had all such wives, that the 

men might go to wars with the women ! 

Ant. So much uncurbable, her garboils, Caesar, 
Made out of her impatience, — which not wanted 72 
Shrewdness of policy too, — I grieving grant 
Did you too much disquiet; for that you must 
But say I could not help it. 

Cces. I wrote to you 

When rioting in Alexandria; you 76 

Did pocket up my letters, and with taunts 
Did gibe my missive out of audience. 

Ant. Sir, 

He fell upon me, ere admitted: then 
Three kings I had newly feasted, and did want 80 
Of what I was i' the morning; but next day 
I told him of myself, which was as much 
As to have ask'd him pardon. Let this fellow 

67, 68 The third o' the world . . . wife; cf. n. 
78 missive: messenger 



28 The Tragedy of 

Be nothing of our strife ; if we contend, 84 

Out of our question wipe him. 

Cces. You have broken 

The article of your oath, which you shall never 
Have tongue to charge me with. 

Lep. Soft, Caesar! 

Ant. No, 

Lepidus, let him speak: 88 

The honour's sacred which he talks on now, 
Supposing that I lack'd it. But on, Caesar; 
The article of my oath. 

Cces. To lend me arms and aid when I requir'd 
them, 92 

The which you both denied. 

Ant. Neglected, rather; 

And then, when poison'd hours had bound me up 
From mine own knowledge. As nearly as I may, 
I'll play the penitent to you; but mine honesty 96 
Shall not make poor my greatness, nor my power 
Work without it. Truth is, that Fulvia, 
To have me out of Egypt, made wars here; 
For which myself, the ignorant motive, do 100 

So far ask pardon as befits mine honour 
To stoop in such a case. 

Lep. 'Tis noble spoken. 

Mcec. If it might please you, to enforce no further 
The griefs between ye: to forget them quite 104 

Were to remember that the present need 
Speaks to atone you. 

Lep. Worthily spoken, Maecenas. 

Eno. Or, if you borrow one another's love 

for the instant, you may, when you hear no 108 

more words of Pompey, return it again: you 

106 atone: reconcile 



Antony and Cleopatra, II. ii 29 

shall have time to wrangle in when you have 

nothing else to do. 

Ant. Thou art a soldier only; speak no more. 112 
Eno. That truth should be silent I had almost 

forgot. 

Ant. You wrong this presence; therefore speak no 
more. 
Eno. Go to, then; your considerate stone. 116 

Cces. I do not much dislike the matter, but 
The manner of his speech; for it cannot be 
We shall remain in friendship, our conditions 
So differing in their acts. Yet, if I knew 120 

What hoop should hold us stanch, from edge to edge 
O' the world I would pursue it. 

Agr. Give me leave, Caesar. 

Cces. Speak, Agrippa. 

Agr. Thou hast a sister by the mother's side, 124 
Admir'd Octavia; great Mark Antony 
Is now a widower. 

Cces. Say not so, Agrippa: 

If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof 
Were well deserv'd of rashness. 128 

Ant. I am not married, Caesar; let me hear 
Agrippa further speak. 

Agr. To hold you in perpetual amity, 
To make you brothers, and to knit your hearts 132 
With an unslipping knot, take Antony 
Octavia to his wife; whose beauty claims 
No worse a husband than the best of men, 
Whose virtue and whose general graces speak 136 

That which none else can utter. By this marriage, 
All little jealousies which now seem great, 

116 your considerate stone; cf. n. 119 conditions: characters 

121 stanch: firmly united 



30 The Tragedy of 

And all great fears which now import their dangers, 

Would then be nothing; truths would be tales 140 

Where now half tales be truths ; her love to both 

Would each to other and all loves to both 

Draw after her. Pardon what I have spoke, 

For 'tis a studied, not a present thought, 144 

By duty ruminated. 

Ant. Will Csesar speak? 

Cces. Not till he hears how Antony is touch'd 
With what is spoke already. 

Ant. What power is in Agrippa, 

If I would say, 'Agrippa, be it so/ 148 

To make this good? 

Cces. The power of Caesar, and 

His power unto Octavia. 

Ant. May I never 

To this good purpose, that so fairly shows, 
Dream of impediment! Let me have thy hand; 152 
Further this act of grace, and from this hour 
The heart of brothers govern in our loves 
And sway our great designs ! 

Cces. There is my hand. 

A sister I bequeath you, whom no brother 156 

Did ever love so dearly; let her live 
To join our kingdoms and our hearts, and never 
Fly off our loves again ! 

Lep. Happily, amen! 

Ant. I did not think to draw my sword 'gainst 
Pompey, 160 

For he hath laid strange courtesies and great 
Of late upon me; I must thank him only, 
Lest my remembrance suffer ill report; 

139 import: carry with them 140, 141 truths . . . truths; cf. n. 

144, 145 For 'tis . . . ruminated; cf. n. 
158, 159 and never . . . again; cf. n. 



Antony and Cleopatra, II. ii 31 

At heel of that, defy him. 

Lep. Time calls upon 's: 164 

Of us must Pompey presently be sought, 
Or else he seeks out us. 

Ant. Where lies he? 

Ccbs. About the Mount Misenum. 
Ant. What's his strength 

By land? 

Cces. Great and increasing; but by sea 168 

He is an absolute master. 

Ant. So is the fame. 

Would we had spoke together! Haste we for it; 
Yet, ere we put ourselves in arms, dispatch we 
The business we have talk'd of. 

Cces. With most gladness; 172 

And do invite you to my sister's view, 
Whither straight I'll lead you. 

Ant. Let us, Lepidus, 

Not lack your company. 

Lep. Noble Antony, 

Not sickness should detain me. 176 

Flourish. Exeunt [all save] Enobarbus, 

Agrippa, Maecenas. 
Mccc. Welcome from Egypt, sir. 
Eno. Half the heart of Caesar, worthy Mae- 
cenas ! My honourable friend, Agrippa ! 

Acjr. Good Enobarbus ! 180 

Mcec. We have cause to be glad that matters 
are so well digested. You stayed well by 't in 
Egypt. 

Eno. Ay, sir ; we did sleep day out of coun- 184 
tenance, and made the night light with drinking. 

169 fame: rumor 170 spoke: euphemism for 'fought' 



32 The Tragedy of 

Mcec. Eight wild boars roasted whole at a 

breakfast, and but twelve persons there; is this 

true ? 188 

Eno. This was but as a fly by an eagle; we 

had much more monstrous matter of feast, 

which worthily deserved noting. 

Mcec. She's a most triumphant lady, if report 192 

be square to her. 

Eno. When she first met Mark Antony she 

pursed up his heart, upon the river of Cydnus. 
Agr. There she appeared indeed, or my re- 196 

porter devised well for her. 

Eno. I will tell you. 
The barge she sat in, like a burnish'd throne, 
Burn'd on the water; the poop was beaten gold, 200 
Purple the sails, and so perfum'd, that 
The winds were love-sick with them; the oars were 

silver, 
Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke, and made 
The water which they beat to follow faster, 204 

As amorous of their strokes. For her own person, 
It beggar'd all description; she did lie 
In her pavilion, — cloth-of-gold of tissue, — 
O'er-picturing that Venus where we see 208 

The fancy outwork nature ; on each side her 
Stood pretty-dimpled boys, like smiling Cupids, 
With divers-colour'd fans, whose wind did seem 
To glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool, 212 
And what they undid did. 

Agr. O, rare for Antony ! 

195 pursed: took possession of, pocketed 

206 beggar'd: exhausted the resources of 

208 O'er-picturing: surpassing the picture of 

209 outwork: excel in work man ship 212 glow: to make hot 
213 And what they undid did; cf. n. 



Antony and Cleopatra, II. it 33 

Eno. Her gentlewomen, like the Nereides, 
So many mermaids, tended her i' the eyes, 
And made their bends adorn in gs; at the helm 216 
A seeming mermaid steers ; the silken tackle 
Swell with the touches of those flower-soft hands, 
That yarely frame the office. From the barge 
A strange invisible perfume hits the sense 220 

Of the adjacent wharfs. The city cast 
Her people out upon her, and Antony, 
Enthron'd i' the market-place, did sit alone, 
Whistling to the air; which, but for vacancy, 224 

Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too 
And made a gap in nature. 

Arjr. Rare Egyptian! 

Eno. Upon her landing, Antony sent to her, 
Invited her to supper; she replied 228 

It should be better he became her guest, 
Which she entreated. Our courteous Antony, 
Whom ne'er the word of 'No' woman heard speak, 
Being barber'd ten times o'er, goes to the feast, 232 
And for his ordinary pays his heart 
For what his eyes eat only. 

Agr. Royal wench ! 

She made great Caesar lay his sword to bed; 
He plough'd her, and she cropp'd. 

Eno. I saw her once 236 

Hop forty paces through the public street; 
And having lost her breath, she spoke, and panted 
That she did make defect perfection, 
And, breathless, power breathe forth. 240 

Mcec. Now Antony must leave her utterly. 

Eno. Never; he will not: 

214-218 Her gentlewomen . . . hands; cf. n. 

214 Nereides: sea nymph s 219 yarely: nimbly 

233 ordinary : dinner 239 That: so that 



34 The Tragedy of 

( Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale 
\Her infinite variety; other women cloy 244 

The appetites they feed, but she makes hungry 
Where most she satisfies ; for vilest things 
Become themselves in her, that the holy priests 
Bless her when she is riggish. 248 

Mcec. If beauty, wisdom, modesty, can settle 
The heart of Antony, Octavia is 
A blessed lottery to him. 

Agr. Let us go. 

Good Enobarbus, make yourself my guest 252 

Whilst you abide here. 

Eno. Humbly, sir, I thank you. 

Exeunt. 

Scene Three 

[A Room in Ccesar's House~\ 

Enter Antony, Ccesar, Octavia between them 
[with Attendants}. 

Ant. The world and my great office will sometimes 
Divide me from your bosom. 

Oct. All which time 

Before the gods my knee shall bow my prayers 
To them for you. 

Ant. Good night, sir. My Octavia, 4 

Read not my blemishes in the world's report ; 
I have not kept my square, but that to come 
Shall all be done by the rule. Good night, dear lady. 

Oct. Good night, sir. 8 

Cces. Good night. 

Exeunt \Ccesar and Octavia"}. 

247 Become themselves : are becoming 248 riggish : wanton 

6 square : due proportion or bounds {in action) 



Antony and Cleopatra, II. Hi 35 

Enter Soothsayer. 

Ant. Now, sirrah; you do wish yourself in Egypt? 

Sooth. Would I had never come from thence, nor 
you 
Thither ! 12 

Ant. If you can, your reason? 

Sooth. I see it in 

My motion, have it not in my tongue: but yet 
Hie you to Egypt again. 

Ant. Say to me, 

Whose fortunes shall rise higher, Caesar's or mine ? 16 

Sooth. Caesar's. 
Therefore, O Antony! stay not by his side; 
Thy demon, that thy spirit which keeps thee, is 
Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable, 20 

Where Caesar's is not; but near him thy angel 
Becomes a fear, as being o'erpower'd; therefore 
Make space enough between you. 

Ant. Speak this no more. 

Sooth. To none but thee; no more but when to 
thee. 24 

If thou dost play with him at any game 
Thou art sure to lose, and, of that natural luck, 
He beats thee 'gainst the odds; thy lustre thickens 
When he shines by. I say again, thy spirit 28 

Is all afraid to govern thee near him, 
But he away, 'tis noble. 

Ant. Get thee gone: 

Say to Ventidius I would speak with him. 

Exit [Soothsayer']. 
He shall to Parthia. Be it art or hap, 32 

He hath spoken true; the very dice obey him. 

13, 14 in My motion: intuitively or instinctively 

27 thickens: grows dim 32 hap: chance 



36 The Tragedy of 

And in our sports my better cunning faints 

Under his chance; if we draw lots he speeds, 

His cocks do win the battle still of mine 36 

When it is all to nought, and his quails ever 

Beat mine, inhoop'd, at odds. I will to Egypt; 

And though I make this marriage for my peace, 

I' the east my pleasure lies. 

Enter Ventidius. 

! come, Ventidius, 40 
You must to Parthia; your commission's ready; 
Follow me, and receive 't. Exeunt. 



Scene Four 

[A Street in Rome] 
Enter Lepidus, Maecenas, and Agrippa. 

Lep. Trouble yourselves no further; pray you 
hasten 
Your generals after. 

Agr. Sir, Mark Antony 

Will e'en but kiss Octavia, and we'll follow. 

Lep. Till I shall see you in your soldier's dress, 4 
Which will become you both, farewell. 

Mcec. We shall, 

As I conceive the journey, be at the Mount 
Before you, Lepidus. 

Lep. Your way is shorter; 

My purposes do draw me much about: 8 

You'll win two days upon me. 

35 speeds: is successful 36 still: constantly 

37, 38 his quails . . . at odds; cf. n. 

2 Your generals after: after your generals 



Antony and Cleopatra, II. v 3 ? 

Mac. ) c . -■ , 

>• sir, good success ! 
Agr. ) 

Lep. Farewell. Exeunt. 

Scene Five 

[Alexandria. A Room in the Palace] 

Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, Alexas [and 
Attendant]. 

Cleo. Give me some music; music, moody food 
Of us that trade in love. 

Attend. The music, ho! 

Enter Mardian the Eunuch. 

Cleo. Let it alone; let's to billiards: come, Char- 
mian. 

Char. My arm is sore; best play with Mardian. 4 

Cleo. As well a woman with a eunuch play'd 
As with a woman. Come, you'll play with me, sir ? 

Mar. As well as I can, madam. 

Cleo. And when good will is show'd, though 't 
come too short, 8 

The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now. 
Give me mine angle; we'll to the river: there — 
My music playing far off — I will betray 
Tawny-finn'd fishes ; my bended hook shall pierce 12 
Their slimy jaws; and, as I draw them up, 
I'll think them every one an Antony, 
And say, 'Ah, ha! you're caught.' 

Char. 'Twas merry when 

You wager'd on your angling; when your diver 16 
Did hang a salt-fish on his hook, which he 
With fervency drew up. 

3 billiards; cf. n. 



38 The Tragedy of 

Cleo. That time — O times ! — 

I laugh'd him out of patience; and that night 
I laugh'd him into patience: and next morn, 20 

Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed; 
Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilst 
I wore his sword Philippan. 

Enter a Messenger. 

O ! from Italy ; 
Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears, 24 

That long time have been barren. 

Mess. Madam, madam, — 

Cleo. Antony's dead! if thou say so, villain, 
Thou kill'st thy mistress; but well and free, 
If thou so yield him, there is gold, and here 28 

My bluest veins to kiss ; a hand that kings 
Have lipp'd, and trembled kissing. 

Mess. First, madam, he is well. 

Cleo. Why, there's more gold. 

But, sirrah, mark, we use 32 

To say the dead are well: bring it to that, 
The gold I give thee will I melt, and pour 
Down thy ill-uttering throat. 

Mess. Good madam, hear me. 

Cleo. Well, go to, I will; 36 

But there's no goodness in thy face; if Antony 
Be free and healthful, so tart a favour 
To trumpet such good tidings ! if not well, 
Thou shouldst come like a Fury crown'd with 
snakes, 40 

Not like a formal man. 

Mess. Will 't please you hear me? 

22 tires: head-dresses 23 his sword Philippan; cf. n. 

38 so tart a favour: so sour an appearance 41 formal: ordinary 



Antony and Cleopatra, II. v 39 

Cleo. I have a mind to strike thee ere thou 
speak'st: 
Yet, if thou say Antony lives, is well, 
Or friends with Caesar, or not captive to him, 44 
111 set thee in a shower of gold, and hail 
Rich pearls upon thee. 

Mess. Madam, he's well. 

Cleo. Well said. 

Mess. And friends with Caesar. 

Cleo. Thou'rt an honest man. 

Mess. Caesar and he are greater friends than 
ever. 48 

Cleo. Make thee a fortune from me. 

Mess. But yet, madam, — 

Cleo. I do not like 'but yet,' it does allay 
The good precedence ; fie upon 'but yet !' 
'But yet' is as a gaoler to bring forth 52 

Some monstrous malefactor. Prithee, friend, 
Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear, 
The good and bad together. He's friends with 

Caesar ; 
In state of health, thou sayst ; and thou sayst, free. 56 

Mess. Free, madam ! no ; I made no such report : 
He's bound unto Octavia. 

Cleo. For what good turn? 

Mess. For the best turn i' the bed. 

Cleo. I am pale, Charmian! 

Mess. Madam, he's married to Octavia. 60 

Cleo. The most infectious pestilence upon thee! 

Strikes him down. 

Mess. Good madam, patience. 

Cleo. What say you? Hence, 

Strikes him. 

51 precedence: something said before 



40 The Tragedy of 

Horrible villain ! or I'll spurn thine eyes 
Like balls before me; I'll unhair thy head: 64 

She hales him up and down. 
Thou shalt be whipp'd with wire, and stew'd in brine, 
Smarting in lingering pickle. 

Mess. Gracious madam, 

I that do bring the news made not the match. 

Cleo. Say 'tis not so, a province I will give thee, 68 
And make thy fortunes proud ; the blow thou hadst 
Shall make thy peace for moving me to rage, 
And I will boot thee with what gift beside 
Thy modesty can beg. 

Mess. He's married, madam. 72 

Cleo. Rogue! thou hast liv'd too long. 

Draws a knife. 

Mess. Nay, then I'll run. 

What mean you, madam? I have made no fault. 

Exit. 

Char. Good madam, keep yourself within your- 
self; 
The man is innocent. 76 

Cleo. Some innocents 'scape not the thunderbolt. 
Melt Egypt into Nile! and kindly creatures 
Turn all to serpents ! Call the slave again : 
Though I am mad, I will not bite him. Call. 80 

Char. He is afeard to come. 

Cleo. I will not hurt him. 

[Exit CharmianJ] 
These hands do lack nobility, that they strike 
A meaner than myself; since I myself 
Have given myself the cause. 

Enter \Charmian, andP\ the Messenger again. 

Come hither, sir. 84 

71 boot: enrich by addition 



Antony and Cleopatra, II. v 41 

Though it be honest, it is never good 
To bring bad news ; give to a gracious message 
A host of tongues, but let ill tidings tell 
Themselves when they be felt. 

Mess. I have done my duty. 88 

Cleo. Is he married? 
I cannot hate thee worser than I do 
If thou again say 'Yes.' 

Mess. He's married, madam. 

Cleo. The gods confound thee ! dost thou hold there 
still ? 92 

Mess. Should I lie, madam? 

Cleo. O ! I would thou didst, 

So half my Egypt were submerg'd and made 
A cistern for scal'd snakes. Go, get thee hence; 
Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me 96 

Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married? 

Mess. I crave your highness' pardon. 

Cleo. He is married? 

Mess. Take no offence that I would not offend 
you; 
To punish me for what you make me do 100 

Seems much unequal; he's married to Octavia. 

Cleo. O! that his fault should make a knave of 
thee, 
That art not what thou'rt sure of. Get thee hence; 
The merchandise which thou hast brought from 
Rome 104 

Are all too dear for me; lie they upon thy hand 
And be undone by 'em! [Exit Messenger."] 

Char. Good your highness, patience. 

Cleo. In praising Antony I have disprais'd Caesar. 

Char. Many times, madam. 

94 So: even though 103 That art not what thou'rt sure of; cf. n. 



42 The Tragedy of 

Cleo. I am paid for 't now. 108 

Lead me from hence; 

I faint. O Iras ! Charmian ! 'Tis no matter. 
Go to the fellow, good Alexas ; bid him 
Report the feature of Octavia, her years, 112 

Her inclination, let him not leave out 
The colour of her hair: bring me word quickly. 

[Exit Alexas.'] 
Let him forever go: — let him not — Charmian! — 
Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon, 116 
The other way's a Mars. [To Mardian.] Bid you 

Alexas 
Bring me word how tall she is. Pity me, Charmian, 
But do not speak to me. Lead me to my chamber. 

Exeunt. 



Scene Six 
[Near Misenum] 

Flourish. Enter Pompey [and Menas,] at one door, 
•with drum and trumpet; at another Cazsar, Lepi- 
dus, Antony, Enobarbus, Maecenas, with Soldiers 
marching. 

Pom. Your hostages I have, so have you mine; 
And we shall talk before we fight. 

Cats. Most meet 

That first we come to words, and therefore have we 
Our written purposes before us sent; 4 

Which if thou hast consider'd, let us know 
If 'twill tie up thy discontented sword, 
And carry back to Sicily much tall youth 
That else must perish here. 

113 inclination: disposition 7 tall: sturdy 



Antony and Cleopatra, II. vi 43 

Pom. To you all three, 8 

The senators alone of this great world, 
Chief factors for the gods : I do not know 
Wherefore my father should revengers want, 
Having a son and friends; since Julius Caesar, 12 
Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted, 
There saw you labouring for him. What was 't 
That mov'd pale Cassius to conspire? and what 
Made the all-honour'd, honest Roman, Brutus, 16 
With the arm'd rest, courtiers of beauteous freedom, 
To drench the Capitol, but that they would 
Have one man but a man? And that is it 
Hath made me rig my navy, at whose burden 20 

The anger' d ocean foams, with which I meant 
To scourge the ingratitude that despiteful Rome 
Cast on my noble father. 

Cms. Take your time. 

Ant. Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with thy 
sails ; 24 

Well speak with thee at sea: at land, thou know'st 
How much we do o'er-count thee. 

Pom. At land, indeed, 

Thou dost o'er-count me of my father's house; 
But, since the cuckoo builds not for himself, 28 

Remain in 't as thou mayst. 

Lep. Be pleas'd to tell us — 

For this is from the present — how you take 
The offers we have sent you. 

Ccbs. There's the point. 

Ant. Which do not be entreated to, but weigh 32 
What it is worth embrac'd. 

Cms. And what may follow, 

10 factors: agents 10-14 I do not . . . him; cf. n. 

13 ghosted: haunted 24 fear: fright-en 

26 o'er-count: outnymber 27 o'er-count: over-reach; cf. n. 



44 The Tragedy of 

To try a larger fortune. 

Pom. You have made me offer 

Of Sicily, Sardinia; and I must 

Rid all the sea of pirates; then, to send 36 

Measures of wheat to Rome; this 'greed upon, 
To part with unhack'd edges, and bear back 
Our targets undinted. 

Cees. J 

Ant. > That's our offer. 

Lep. ) 

Pom. Know, then, 

I came before you here a man prepar'd 40 

To take this offer; but Mark Antony 
Put me to some impatience. Though I lose 
The praise of it by telling, you must know, 
When Caesar and your brother were at blows, 44 

Your mother came to Sicily and did find 
Her welcome friendly. 

Ant. I have heard it, Pompey; 

And am well studied for a liberal thanks 
Which I do owe you. 

Pom. Let me have your hand: 48 

I did not think, sir, to have met you here. 

Ant. The beds i' the east are soft; and thanks to 
you, 
That call'd me timelier than my purpose hither, 
For I have gain'd by 't. 

Cces. Since I saw you last, 52 

There is a change upon you. 

Pom. Well, I know not 

What counts harsh Fortune casts upon my face, 
But in my bosom shall she never come 
To make my heart her vassal. 

54 counts: accounts 



Antony and Cleopatra, II. vi 45 

Lep. Well met here. 56 

Pom. I hope so, Lepidus. Thus we are agreed. 
I crave our composition may be written 
And seal'd between us. 

Cass. That's the next to do. 

Pom. We'll feast each other ere we part; and 
let's 60 

Draw lots who shall begin. 

Ant. That will I, Pompey. 

Pom. No, Antony, take the lot: 
But, first or last, your fine Egyptian cookery 
Shall have the fame. I have heard that Julius 
Caesar 64 

Grew fat with feasting there. 

Ant. You have heard much. 

Pom. I have fair meanings, sir. 

Ant. And fair words to them. 

Pom. Then, so much have I heard; 
And I have heard Apollodorus carried — 68 

Eno. No more of that: he did so. 

Pom. What, I pray you? 

Eno. A certain queen to Caesar in a mattress. 

Pom. I know thee now; how far'st thou, soldier? 

Eno. Well; 

And well am like to do; for I perceive 72 

Four feasts are toward. 

Pom. Let me shake thy hand; 

I never hated thee. I have seen thee fight, 
When I have envied thy behaviour. 

Eno. Sir, 

I never lov'd you much, but I ha' prais'd ye 76 

When you have well deserv'd ten times as much 
As I have said you did. 



46 The Tragedy of 

Pom. Enjoy thy plainness, 

It nothing ill becomes thee. 

Aboard my galley I invite you all: 80 

Will you lead, lords? 
Cass. \ 

Ant. \ Show us the way, sir. 

Lep. ) 

Pom. Come. 

Exeunt [all except Enobarbus and Menas]. 

Men. Thy father, Pompey, would ne'er have 
made this treaty. You and I have known, sir. 

Eno. At sea, I think. 84 

Men. We have, sir. 

Eno. You have done well by water. 

Men. And you by land. 

Eno. I will praise any man that will praise 88 
me; though it cannot be denied what I have 
done by land. 

Men. Nor what I have done by water. 

Eno. Yes, something you can deny for your 92 
own safety; you have been a great thief by sea. 

Men. And you by land. 

Eno. There I deny my land service. But 
give me your hand, Menas ; if our eyes had 96 
authority, here they might take two thieves 
kissing. 

Men. All men's faces are true, whatsoe'er 
their hands are. 100 

Eno. But there is never a fair woman has a 
true face. 

Men. No slander; they steal hearts. 

Eno. We came hither to fight with you. 104 

Men. For my part, I am sorry it is turned to 

83 known: me* 97 authority: warrant to arrest 



Antony and Cleopatra, II. vi ^ 

a drinking. Pompey doth this day laugh away 
his fortune. 

Eno. If he do, sure he cannot weep it back 108 
again. 

Men. You have said, sir. We looked not for 
Mark Antony here: pray you, is he married to 
Cleopatra ? 112 

Eno. Caesar's sister is called Octavia. 

Men. True, sir; she was the wife of Caius 
Marcellus. 

Eno. But she is now the wife of Marcus 116 
Antonius. 

Men. Pray ye, sir? 

Eno. 'Tis true. 

Men. Then is Caesar and he for ever knit 120 
together. 

Eno. If I were bound to divine of this unity, 
I would not prophesy so. 

Men. I think the policy of that purpose 124 
made more in the marriage than the love of the 
parties. 

Eno. I think so too; but you shall find the 
band that seems to tie their friendship together 128 
will be the very strangler of their amity. Octavia 
is of a holy, cold, and still conversation. 

Men. Who would not have his wife so? 

Eno. Not he that himself is not so; which is 132 
Mark Antony. He will to his Egyptian dish 
again ; then, shall the sighs of Octavia blow the 
fire up in Caesar, and, as I said before, that 
which is the strength of their amity shall prove 136 
the immediate author of their variance. Antony 

128 band: bond 130 still: quiet conversation: behavior 



48 The Tragedy of 

will use his affection where it is ; he married but 
his occasion here. 

Men. And thus it may be. Come, sir, will 140 
you aboard? I have a health for you. 

Eno. I shall take it, sir: we have used our 
throats in Egypt. 

Men. Come; let's away. Exeunt. 



Scene Seven 

[On board Pompey's Galley off Misenum] 

Music plays. Enter two or three Servants, with a 

banquet. 

First Serv. Here they'll be, man. Some o* 
their plants are ill-rooted already; the least 
wind i' the world will blow them down. 

Sec. Serv. Lepidus is high-coloured. 4 

First Serv. They have made him drink alms- 
drink. 

Sec. Serv. As they pinch one another by the 
disposition, he cries out, 'No more'; reconciles 8 
them to his entreaty, and himself to the drink. 

First Serv. But it raises the greater war be- 
tween him and his discretion. 

Sec. Serv. Why, this it is to have a name in 12 
great men's fellowship ; I had as lief have a reed 
that will do me no service as a partisan I could 
not heave. 

139 occasion: opportunity for advantage 
5 alms-drink : the leavings 
7, 8 As they pinch . . . disposition ; cf. n. 
13-15 I had as lief . . . heave; cf. n. 



Antony and Cleopatra, II. vii 49 

First Serv. To be called into a huge sphere, 16 
and not to be seen to move in % are the holes 
where eyes should be, which pitifully disaster 
the cheeks. 

A sennet sounded. Enter Ccesar, Antony, Pompey, 
Lepidus, Agrippa, Mcecenas, Enobarbus, Menas, 
with other Captains. 

Ant. Thus do they, sir. They take the flow o' the 
Nile 20 

By certain scales i' the pyramid; they know 
By the height, the lowness, or the mean, if dearth 
Or foison follow. The higher Nilus swells 
The more it promises; as it ebbs, the seedsman 24 
Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain, 
And shortly comes to harvest. 

Lep. You've strange serpents there. 
Ant. Ay, Lepidus. 28 

Lep. Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of 
your mud by the operation of your sun; so is 
your crocodile. 

Ant. They are so. 32 

Pom. Sit, — and some wine! A health to 
Lepidus ! 

Lep. I am not so well as I should be, but I'll 
ne'er out. 36 

Eno. Not till you have slept; I fear me you'll 
be in till then. 

Lep. Nay, certainly, I have heard the Ptole- 
mies' pyramises are very goodly things; without 40 
contradiction, I have heard that. 
Men. Pompey, a word. 

16-19 To be called . . . cheeks; cf. n. 

19 S. d. sennet: set of notes played on a trumpet. 

22, 23 dearth Or foison: scarcity or plenty 



so The Tragedy of 

Pom. Say in mine ear; what is 't? 
Men. Whispers in's ear. Forsake thy seat, I do be- 
seech thee, captain, 44 
And hear me speak a word. 

Pom. Forbear me till anon. 

This wine for Lepidus ! 

Lep. What manner o' thing is your crocodile? 
Ant. It is shaped, sir, like itself, and it is as 48 
broad as it hath breadth; it is just so high as it 
is, and moves with it own organs; it lives by 
that which nourisheth it; and the elements 
once out of it, it transmigrates. 52 

Lep. What colour is it of? 
Ant. Of it own colour too. 
Lep. 'Tis a strange serpent. 
Ant. 'Tis so; and the tears of it are wet. 56 

Cobs. Will this description satisfy him? 
Ant. With the health that Pompey gives him, 
else he is a very epicure. 

Pom. Go hang sir, hang! Tell me of that? 
away ! 60 

Do as I bid you. Where's this cup I call'd for? 

Men. If for the sake of merit thou wilt hear me, 
Rise from thy stool. 

Pom. I think thou'rt mad. The matter? 

[Walks aside. ~\ 
Men. I have ever held my cap off to thy for- 
tunes. 64 
Pom. Thou hast serv'd me with much faith. What's 
else to say? 
Be jolly, lords. 

Ant. These quick-sands, Lepidus, 

Keep off them, for you sink. 

50 it own: its own 51 elements: substances of its body 

52 transmigrates: its soul passes to another body 



Antony and Cleopatra, II. vii 51 

Men. Wilt thou be lord of all the world? 

Pom. What sayst thou? 68 

Men. Wilt thou be lord of the whole world? 
That's twice. 

Pom. How should that be? 

Men. But entertain it, 

And though thou think me poor, I am the man 
Will give thee all the world. 

Pom. Hast thou drunk well? 72 

Men. No, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup. 
Thou art, if thou dar'st be, the earthly Jove: 
Whate'er the ocean pales, or sky inclips, 
Is thine, if thou wilt ha 't. 

Pom. Show me which way. 76 

Men. These three world-sharers, these competitors, 
Are in thy vessel: let me cut the cable; 
And, when we are put off, fall to their throats: 
All there is thine. 

Pom. Ah, this thou shouldst have done, 80 

And not have spoke on 't. In me 'tis villainy; 
In thee 't had been good service. Thou must know 
'Tis not my profit that does lead mine honour; 
Mine honour it. Repent that e'er thy tongue 84 

Hath so betray'd thine act; being done unknown, 
I should have found it afterwards well done, 
But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink. 

Men. [Aside.] For this, 88 

I'll never follow thy pall'd fortunes more. 
Who seeks, and will not take when once 'tis offer' d, 
Shall never find it more. 

Pom. This health to Lepidus ! 

Ant. Bear him ashore. I'll pledge it for him, 
Pompey. 92 

75 pales : surrounds inclips: encloses 89 pall'd: weakened 



52 The Tragedy of 

Eno. Here's to thee, Menas ! 

Men. Enobarbus, welcome! 

Pom. Fill till the cup be hid. 

Eno. There's a strong fellow, Menas. 

[Pointing to the Attendant who carries 

off Lepidus."] 

Men. Why? 96 

Eno. A* bears the third part of the world, 

man; see'st not? 

Men. The third part then is drunk; would it were 
all, 
That it might go on wheels ! 100 

Eno. Drink thou; increase the reels. 

Men. Come. 

Pom. This is not yet an Alexandrian feast. 

Ant. It ripens towards it. Strike the vessels, 
ho! 104 

Here is to Caesar ! 

Cass. I could well forbear 't. 

It's monstrous labour, when I wash my brain, 
And it grows fouler. 

Ant. Be a child o' the time. 

Ctes. Possess it, I'll make answer; 108 

But I had rather fast from all four days 
Than drink so much in one. 

Eno. [To Antony.'] Ha! my brave emperor; 
Shall we dance now the Egyptian Bacchanals, 
And celebrate our drink? 

Pom. Let's ha't, good soldier. 112 

Ant. Come, let's all take hands, 
Till that the conquering wine hath steep'd our sense 
In soft and delicate Lethe. 

97 A': he 108 Possess: be master o/(?) 

Ill Bacchanals : dances in honor of Bacchus 
114 steep'd: saturated 



Antony and Cleopatra, II. vii 53 

Eno. All take hands. 

Make battery to our ears with the loud music; 116 
The while I'll place you; then the boy shall sing, 
The holding every man shall bear as loud 
As his strong sides can volley. 

Music plays. Enobarbus places them 

hand in hand. 

The Song. 

'Come, thou monarch of the vine, 120 

Plumpy Bacchus, with pink eyne! 
In thy fats our cares be drown'd, 
With thy grapes our hairs be crown'd: 

Cup us, till the world go round, 124 

Cup us, till the world go round !' 

Cobs. What would you more ? Pompey, good night. 
Good brother, 
Let me request you off; our graver business 
Frowns at this levity. Gentle lords, let's part; 128 
You see we have burnt our cheeks ; strong Enobarb 
Is weaker than the wine, and mine own tongue 
Splits what it speaks; the wild disguise hath almost 
Antick'd us all. What needs more words? Good 
night. 132 

Good Antony, your hand. 

Pom. I'll try you on the shore. 

Ant. And shall, sir. Give's your hand. 

Pom. O, Antony \ 

You have my father's house, — But, what? we are 

friends. 
Come down into the boat. 

116 Make battery to our ears: let the music beat upon our ears. 

118 holding: burden or chorus 

121 pink eyne: blinking eyes 122 fats: wine vats 

127 Let me request you off: let me request you to leave 

132 Antick'd: made us all like buffoons 



54 The Tragedy of 

Eno. Take heed you fall not. 136 

[Exeunt Pompey, Ceesar, Antony, 
and Attendants.] 
Menas, I'll not on shore. 

Men. No, to my cabin. 

These drums ! these trumpets, flutes ! what ! 
Let Neptune hear we bid a loud farewell 
To these great fellows: sound and be hang'd! sound 
out ! 140 

A flourish [of trumpets] with drums. 
Eno. Hoo! says a'. There's my cap. 
Men. Hoa! noble captain! come. Exeunt. 



ACT THIRD 

Scene One 

[A Plain in Syria] 

Enter Ventidius, as it were in triumph, [with Silius 
and other Romans, Officers, and Soldiers;] the 
dead body of Pacorus borne before him. 

Ven. Now, darting Parthia, art thou struck; and 
now 
Pleas'd fortune does of Marcus Crassus' death 
Make me revenger. Bear the king's son's body 
Before our army. Thy Pacorus, Orodes, 4 

Pays this for Marcus Crassus. 

Sil. Noble Ventidius, 

Whilst yet with Parthian blood thy sword is warm, 
The fugitive Parthians follow; spur through Media, 
Mesopotamia, and the shelters whither 8 

The routed fly; so thy grand captain Antony 

1-5 Now, darting Parthia . . . Marcus Crassus ; cf. n. 



Antony and Cleopatra, III. i 55 

Shall set thee on triumphant chariots and 
Put garlands on thy head. 

Ven. O Silius, Silius ! 

I have done enough; a lower place, note well, 12 

May make too great an act ; for learn this, Silius, 
Better to leave undone than by our deed 
Acquire too high a fame when him we serve's away. 
Caesar and Antony have ever won 16 

More in their officer than person; Sossius, 
One of my place in Syria, his lieutenant, 
For quick accumulation of renown, 
Which he achiev'd by the minute, lost his favour. 20 
Who does i' the wars more than his captain can 
Becomes his captain's captain; and ambition, 
The soldier's virtue, rather makes choice of loss 
Than gain which darkens him. 24 

I could do more to do Antonius good, 
But 'twould offend him; and in his offence 
Should my performance perish. 

Sil. Thou hast, Ventidius, that 

Without the which a soldier, and his sword, 28 

Grants scarce distinction. Thou wilt write to Antony ? 

Ven. I'll humbly signify what in his name, 
That magical word of war, we have effected; 
How, with his banners and his well-paid ranks, 32 
The ne'er-yet-beaten horse of Parthia 
We have j aded out o' the field. 

Sil. Where is he now? 

Ven. He purposeth to Athens; whither, with what 
haste 
The weight we must convey with's will permit, 36 
We shall appear before him. On, there; pass along. 

Exeunt. 

20 by the minute: every moment 

34 jaded: driven exhausted 36 with's: with us 



56 The Tragedy of 

Scene Two 

[Rome. A Room in Ccesar's House] 

Enter Agrippa at one door, Enobarbus at another. 

Agr. What! are the brothers parted? 

Eno. They have dispatch'd with Pompey; he is 
gone; 
The other three are sealing. Octavia weeps 
To part from Rome; Caesar is sad; and Lepidus, 4 
Since Pompey's feast, as Menas says, is troubled 
With the green sickness. 

Agr. 'Tis a noble Lepidus. 

Eno. A very fine one. O ! how he loves Caesar. 

Agr. Nay, but how dearly he adores Mark 
Antony ! 8 

Eno. Caesar? Why, he's the Jupiter of men. 

Agr. What's Antony? The god of Jupiter. 

Eno. Spake you of Caesar? How! the nonpareil! 

Agr. O, Antony ! O thou Arabian bird ! 12 

Eno. Would you praise Caesar, say, 'Caesar,' go no 
further. 

Agr. Indeed, he plied them both with excellent 
praises. 

Eno. But he loves Caesar best; yet he loves Antony. 
Hoo! hearts, tongues, figures, scribes, bards, poets, 
cannot 16 

Think, speak, cast, write, sing, number; hoo! 
His love to Antony. But as for Caesar, 
Kneel down, kneel down, and wonder. 

Agr. Both he loves. 

3 sealing: concluding their agreements 

6 green sickness: biliousness 11 nonpareil: one that has no equal 

12 Arabian bird: the phoenix, figurative for 'unique specimen' 

16 figures: mathematical figures of the horoscope (?) 

17 cast: calculate 



Antony and Cleopatra,, III. ii 57 

Eno. They are his shards, and he their beetle. 
[Trumpets within.~\ So; 20 

This is to horse. Adieu, noble Agrippa. 

Agr. Good fortune, worthy soldier, and farewell. 

Enter Cassar, Antony, Lepidus, and Octavia. 

Ant. No further, sir. 

Cass. You take from me a great part of myself; 24 
Use me well in 't. Sister, prove such a wife 
As my thoughts make thee, and as my furthest band 
Shall pass on thy approof. Most noble Antony, 
Let not the piece of virtue, which is set 28 

Betwixt us as the cement of our love 
To keep it builded, be the ram to batter 
The fortress of it; for better might we 
Have lov'd without this mean, if on both parts 32 
This be not cherish'd. 

Ant. Make me not offended 

In your distrust. 

Cass. I have said. 

Ant. You shall not find, 

Though you be therein curious, the least cause 
For what you seem to fear. So, the gods keep you, 36 
And make the hearts of Romans serve your ends ! 
We will here part. 

Cass. Farewell, my dearest sister, fare thee well: 
The elements be kind to thee, and make 40 

Thy spirits all of comfort ! fare thee well. 

Oct. My noble brother ! 

Ant. The April's in her eyes; it is love's spring, 
And these the showers to bring it on. Be cheerful. 44 

Oct. Sir, look well to my husband's house; and — 

Cass. What, 

Octavia ? 

20 shards: wing-cases 26 band: security; cf. n. 

32 mean: means 35 curious: fastidiously particular 



58 The Tragedy of 

Oct. I'll tell you in your ear. 

Ant. Her tongue will not obey her heart, nor can 
Her heart obey her tongue; the swan's down- 
feather, 48 
That stands upon the swell at full of tide, 
And neither way inclines. 

Eno. [Aside to Agrippa.] Will Caesar weep? 

Agr. He has a cloud in's face. 

Eno. He were the worse for that were he a 
horse ; 52 

So is he, being a man. 

Agr. Why, Enobarbus, 

When Antony found Julius Caesar dead 
He cried almost to roaring; and he wept 
When at Philippi he found Brutus slain. 56 

Eno. That year, indeed, he was troubled with a 
rheum ; 
What willingly he did confound he wail'd; 
Believe 't, till I weep too. 

Cass. No, sweet Octavia, 

You shall hear from me still; the time shall not 60 
Out-go my thinking on you. 

Ant. Come, sir, come; 

I'll wrestle with you in my strength of love: 
Look, here I have you ; thus I let you go, 
And give you to the gods. 

Caes. Adieu ; be happy ! 64 

Lep. Let all the number of the stars give light 
To thy fair way ! 

Cobs. Farewell, farewell! 

Kisses Octavia. 

Ant. Farewell! 

Trumpets sound. Exeunt. 

51, 52 He has a cloud in's face . . . horse; cf. n. 

57 rheum: cold 58 confound: destroy 



Antony and Cleopatra^ III. Hi 59 

Scene Three 

[Alexandria. A Room in the Palace] 

Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas. 

Cleo. Where is the fellow? 

Alex. Half afeard to come. 

Cleo. Go to, go to. 

Enter the Messenger as before. 

Come hither, sir. 

Alex. Good majesty, 

Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you 
But when you are well pleas'd. 

Cleo. That Herod's head 4 

I'll have; but how, when Antony is gone 
Through whom I might command it? Come thou 
near. 

Mess. Most gracious majesty! 

Cleo. Didst thou behold 

Octavia ? 

Mess. Ay, dread queen. 

Cleo. Where? 

Mess. Madam, in Rome; 8 

I look'd her in the face, and saw her led 
Between her brother and Mark Antony. 

Cleo. Is she as tall as me? 

Mess. She is not, madam. 

Cleo. Didst hear her speak? is she shrill-tongu'd, 
or low? 12 

Mess. Madam, I heard her speak; she is low- 
voic'd. 

Cleo. That's not so good. He cannot like her long. 

3 Herod of Jewry; cf. n. 



60 The Tragedy of 

Char. Like her ! O Isis ! 'tis impossible. 

Cleo. I think so, Charmian: dull of tongue, and 
dwarfish ! 16 

What majesty is in her gait? Remember, 
If e'er thou look'dst on majesty. 

Mess. She creeps; 

Her motion and her station are as one; 
She shows a body rather than a life, 20 

A statue than a breather. 

Cleo. Is this certain? 

Mess. Or I have no observance. 

Char. Three in Egypt 

Cannot make better note. 

Cleo. He's very knowing, 

I do perceive 't. There's nothing in her yet. 24 

The fellow has good judgment. 

Char. Excellent. 

Cleo. Guess at her years, I prithee. 

Mess. Madam, 

She was a widow, — 

Cleo. Widow! Charmian, hark. 

Mess. And I do think she's thirty. 28 

Cleo. Bear'st thou her face in mind? is 't long or 
round ? 

Mess. Round even to faultiness. 

Cleo. For the most part, too, they are foolish that 
are so. 
Her hair, what colour? 32 

Mess. Brown, madam; and her forehead 
As low as she would wish it. 

Cleo. There's gold for thee: 

Thou must not take my former sharpness ill. 
I will employ thee back again; I find thee 36 

19 station: st an ding still 

33, 34 and her forehead As low as she would wish it; cf. n. 



Antony and Cleopatra, III. iv 61 

Most fit for business. Go, make thee ready; 

Our letters are prepar'd. [Exit Messenger.] 

Char. A proper man. 

Cleo. Indeed, he is so; I repent me much 
That so I harried him. Why, methinks, by him, 40 
This creature's no such thing. 

Char. Nothing, madam. 

Cleo. The man hath seen some majesty, and should 
know. 

Char. Hath he seen majesty? Isis else defend, 
And serving you so long! 44 

Cleo. I have one thing more to ask him yet, good 
Charmian : 
But 'tis no matter ; thou shalt bring him to me 
Where I will write. All may be well enough. 

Char. I warrant you, madam. 48 

Exeunt. 



Scene Four 

[Athens. A Room in Antony's House] 
Enter Antony and Octavia. 

Ant. Nay, nay, Octavia, not only that, 
That were excusable, that, and thousands more 
Of semblable import, but he hath wag'd 
New wars 'gainst Pompey; made his will, and 
read it 4 

To public ear: 

Spoke scantly of me; when perforce he could not 
But pay me terms of honour, cold and sickly 

Scene Four S. d. Athens; cf. n. 

3 semblable import : similar meaning 

4 made his will, and read it; cf. n. 



62 The Tragedy of 

He vented them; most narrow measure lent me; 8 
When the best hint was given him, he not took % 
Or did it from his teeth. 

Oct . O my good lord ! 

Believe not all; or, if you must believe, 
Stomach not all. A more unhappy lady, 12 

If this division chance, ne'er stood between, 
Praying for both parts: 
The good gods will mock me presently, 
When I shall pray, 'O! bless my lord and hus- 
band'; 16 
Undo that prayer, by crying out as loud, 
'O ! bless my brother !' Husband win, win brother, 
Prays, and destroys the prayer; no midway 
'Twixt these extremes at all. 

Ant. Gentle Octavia, 20 

Let your best love draw to that point which seeks 
Best to preserve it. If I lose mine honour 
I lose myself; better I were not yours 
Than yours so branchless. But, as you requested, 24 
Yourself shall go between's; the mean time, lady, 
I'll raise the preparation of a war 
Shall stain your brother; make your soonest haste, 
So your desires are yours. 

Oct. Thanks to my lord. 28 

The Jove of power make me, most weak, most weak, 
Your reconciler ! Wars 'twixt you twain would be 
As if the world should cleave, and that slain men 
Should solder up the rift. 32 

Ant. When it appears to you where this begins, 
Turn your displeasure that way; for our faults 
Can never be so equal that your love 

8 narrow measure lent me: gave me as little credit as possible 

10 from his teeth: spoke from his teeth, not his heart 

24 branchless: destitute 27 stain: make dim, eclipse 



Antony and Cleopatra, III. v 63 

Can equally move with them. Provide your going; 36 
Choose your own company, and command what cost 
Your heart has mind to. Exeunt. 



Scene Five 

[Another Room] 
Enter Enobarbus and Eros [meeting]. 

Eno. How now, friend Eros! 
Eros. There's strange news come, sir. 
Eno. What, man? 

Eros. Caesar and Lepidus have made wars 4 
upon Pompey. 

Eno. This is old: what is the success? 
Eros. Caesar, having made use of him in the 
wars 'gainst Pompey, presently denied him 8 
rivality, would not let him partake in the glory 
of the action; and not resting here, accuses him 
of letters he had formerly wrote to Pompey; 
upon his own appeal, seizes him: so the poor 12 
third is up, till death enlarge his confine. 
Eno. Then, world, thou hast a pair of chaps, no 
more; 
And throw between them all the food thou hast, 
They'll grind the one the other. Where's Antony? 16 
Eros. He's walking in the garden — thus: and 
spurns 
The rush that lies before him ; cries, 'Fool, Lepidus !' 
And threats the throat of that his officer 
That murder'd Pompey. 

Eno. Our great navy's rigg'd. 20 

36 Provide : make ready for 

6 success: outcome 9 rivality: partnership 

12; 13 so the poor third is up . . . confine; cf. n. 14 chaps: jaws 



64 The Tragedy of 

Eros. For Italy and Caesar. More, Domitius ; 
My lord desires you presently: my news 
I might have told hereafter. 

Eno. 'Twill be naught; 

But let it be. Bring me to Antony. 24 

Eros. Come, sir. Exeunt. 



Scene Six 
[Rome. A Room in Caesar's House] 
Enter Agrippa, Maecenas, and C&sar, 

Cces. Contemning Rome, he has done all this and 
more 
In Alexandria; here's the manner of 't; 
I' the market-place, on a tribunal silver'd, 
Cleopatra and himself in chairs of gold 4 

Were publicly enthron'd; at the feet sat 
Caesarion, whom they call my father's son, 
And all the unlawful issue that their lust 
Since then hath made between them. Unto her 8 
He gave the 'stablishment of Egypt; made her 
Of Lower Syria, Cyprus, Lydia, 
Absolute queen. 

Mcec. This in the public eye? 

Cats. I* the common show-place, where they exer- 
cise. 12 
His sons he there proclaim'd the kings of kings ; 
Great Media, Parthia, and Armenia 
He gave to Alexander; to Ptolemy he assign'd 
Syria, Cilicia, and Phoenicia. She 16 
In the habiliments of the goddess Isis 

22 presently : at once 1 Contemning : scorning 

3 tribunal: raised platform 6 my father's son; cf. n. 

9 'stablishment: settled occupation 



Antony and Cleopatra, III, vi 65 

That day appear'd; and oft before gave audience, 
As 'tis reported, so. 

Maze. Let Rome be thus 

Informed. 

Agr. Who, queasy with his insolence 20 

Already, will their good thoughts call from him. 

Cces. The people know it; and have now receiv'd 
His accusations. 

Agr. Whom does he accuse? 

Cces. Caesar; and that, having in Sicily 24 

Sextus Pompeius spoil'd, we had not rated him 
His part o' the isle; then does he say, he lent me 
Some shipping unrestor'd; lastly, he frets 
That Lepidus of the triumvirate 28 

Should be depos'd; and, being, that we detain 
All his revenue. 

Agr. Sir, this should be answer'd. 

Cces. 'Tis done already, and the messenger gone. 
I have told him, Lepidus was grown too cruel ; 32 

That he his high authority abus'd, 
And did deserve his change: for what I have con- 

quer'd, 
I grant him part; but then, in his Armenia, 
And other of his conquer'd kingdoms, I 36 

Demand the like. 

Mcec. He'll never yield to that. 

Cces. Nor must not then be yielded to in this. 

Enter Octavia, with her Train. 

Oct. Hail, Caesar, and my lord; hail, most dear 

Caesar ! 
Cces. That ever I should call thee castaway! 40 
Oct. You have not call'd me so, nor have you cause. 

20 queasy: disgusted 25 rated: allotted 



66 The Tragedy of 

Cces. Why have you stol'n upon us thus? You 
come not 
Like Caesar's sister; the wife of Antony 
Should have an army for an usher, and 44 

The neighs of horse to tell of her approach 
Long ere she did appear; the trees by the way 
Should have borne men; and expectation fainted, 
Longing for what it had not; nay, the dust 48 

Should have ascended to the roof of heaven, 
Rais'd by your populous troops. But you are come 
A market-maid to Rome, and have prevented 
The ostentation of our love, which, left unshown, 52 
Is often left unlov'd: we should have met you 
By sea and land, supplying every stage 
With an augmented greeting. 

Oct. Good my lord, 

To come thus was I not constrain'd, but did it 56 
On my free-will. My lord, Mark Antony, 
Hearing that you prepar'd for war, acquainted 
My grieved ear withal; whereon, I begg'd 
His pardon for return. 

Cces. Which soon he granted, 60 

Being an abstract 'tween his lust and him. 

Oct. Do not say so, my lord. 

Cces. I have eyes upon him, 

And his affairs come to me on the wind. 
Where is he now ? 

Oct. My lord, in Athens. 64 

Cces. No, my most wrong'd sister; Cleopatra 
Hath nodded him to her. He hath given his empire 
Up to a whore; who now are levying 

51, 52 prevented The ostentation: anticipated the display 

52, 53 which, left unshown . . . unlov'd; cf. n. 
61 abstract: abbreviation, shortening ; cf. n. 



Antony and Cleopatra, III. vi 67 

The kings o' the earth for war. He hath assem- 
bled 68 
Bocchus, the King of Libya; Archelaus, 
Of Cappadocia; Philadelphos, King 
Of Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas; 
King Malchus of Arabia; King of Pont; 72 
Herod of Jewry; Mithridates, King 
Of Comagene; Polemon and Amintas, 
The Kings of Mede and Lycaonia, 
With a more larger list of sceptres. 

Oct. Ay me, most wretched, 76 

That have my heart parted betwixt two friends 
That do afflict each other ! 

Cces. Welcome hither: 

Your letters did withhold our breaking forth, 
Till we perceiv'd both how you were wrong led 80 
And we in negligent danger. Cheer your heart; 
Be you not troubled with the time, which drives 
O'er your content these strong necessities, 
But let determin'd things to destiny 84 

Hold unbewail'd their way. Welcome to Rome; 
Nothing more dear to me. You are abus'd 
Beyond the mark of thought, and the high gods, 
To do you justice, make their ministers 88 

Of us and those that love you. Best of comfort, 
And ever welcome to us. 

Agr. Welcome, lady. 

Mcec. Welcome, dear madam. 
Each heart in Rome does love and pity you; 92 

Only the adulterous Antony, most large 
In his abominations, turns you off, 
And gives his potent regiment to a trull, 
That noises it against us. 

93 large: unrestrained 

95 potent regiment: powerful rule trull: a lewd woman 



The Tragedy of 



Oct. Is it so, sir? 96 

Cass. Most certain. Sister, welcome; pray you, 
Be ever known to patience ; my dearest sister ! 

Exeunt. 



Scene Seven 

[Antony's Camp, near to the Promontory of Actium\ 
Enter Cleopatra and Enobarbus. 

Cleo. I will be even with thee, doubt it not. 

Eno. But why, why, why? 

Cleo. Thou hast forspoke my being in these wars, 
And sayst it is not fit. 

Eno. Well, is it, is it? 4 

Cleo. If not denounc'd against us, why should not 
we 
Be there in person? 

Eno. [Aside.'] Well, I could reply: 
If we should serve with horse and mares together, 
The horse were merely lost; the mares would bear 8 
A soldier and his horse. 

Cleo. What is 5 t you say? 

Eno. Your presence needs must puzzle Antony; 
Take from his heart, take from his brain, from's 

time, 
What should not then be spar'd. He is already 12 
Traduc'd for levity, and 'tis said in Rome 
That Photinus a eunuch and your maids 
Manage this war. 

Cleo. Sink Rome, and their tongues rot 

Scene Seven S. d. the Promontory of Actium; cf. n. 

3 forspoke: spoken against 

5, 6 If not denounc'd . . . person ? ; cf. n. 

5 denounc'd: declared 13 Traduc'd: defamed 



Antony and Cleopatra, III. vii 69 

That speak against us ! A charge we bear i' the 
war, 16 

And, as the president of my kingdom, will 
Appear there for a man. Speak not against it; 
I will not stay behind. 

Eno. Nay, I have done. 

Here comes the emperor. 

Enter Antony and Canidius. 

Ant. Is it not strange, Canidius, 20 

That from Tarentum and Brundusium 
He could so quickly cut the Ionian sea, 
And take in Toryne? You have heard on 't, sweet? 

Cleo. Celerity is never more admir'd 24 

Than by the negligent. 

Ant. A good rebuke, 

Which might have well becom'd the best of men, 
To taunt at slackness. Canidius, we 
Will fight with him by sea. 

Cleo. By sea ! What else ? 28 

Can. Why will my lord do so? 

Ant. For that he dares us to 't. 

Eno. So hath my lord dar'd him to single fight. 

Can. Ay, and to wage this battle at Pharsalia, 
Where Caesar fought with Pompey ; but these offers, 32 
Which serve not for his vantage, he shakes off; 
And so should you. 

Eno. Your ships are not well mann'd; 

Your mariners are muleters, reapers, people 
Ingross'd by swift impress ; in Caesar's fleet 36 

Are those that often have 'gainst Pompey fought: 
Their ships are yare; yours, heavy, No disgrace 

16 charge: military command 

25, 26 A good rebuke . . . men; cf. n. 

36 Ingross'd: collected impress: conscription 

38 yare: quick, easily handled 



70 The Tragedy of 

Shall fall you for refusing him at sea, 
Being prepar'd for land. 

Ant. By sea, by sea. 40 

Eno. Most worthy sir, you therein throw away 
The absolute soldiership you have by land; 
Distract your army, which doth most consist 
Of war-mark'd footmen; leave unexecuted 44 

Your own renowned knowledge; quite forgo 
The way which promises assurance; and 
Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard 
From firm security. 

Ant. I'll fight at sea. 48 

Cleo. I have sixty sails, Caesar none better. 
Ant. Our overplus of shipping will we burn; 
And with the rest, full-mann'd, from the head of 

Actium 
Beat the approaching Caesar. But if we fail, 52 

We then can do 't at land. 

Enter a Messenger. 

Thy business? 

Mess. The news is true, my lord; he is descried; 
Caesar has taken Toryne. 

Ant. Can he be there in person? 'tis impossible; 56 
Strange that his power should be. Canidius, 
Our nineteen legions thou shalt hold by land, 
And our twelve thousand horse. We'll to our ship: 
Away, my Thetis ! 

Enter a Soldier. 

How now, worthy soldier! 60 

Sold. O noble emperor! do not fight by sea; 
Trust not to rotten planks : do you misdoubt 

39 fall: befall 60 Thetis: the name of a sea nymph 



Antony and Cleopatra, III. vii 71 

This sword and these my wounds? Let the Egyp- 
tians 
And the Phoenicians go a-ducking; we 64 

Have used to conquer, standing on the earth, 
And fighting foot to foot. 

Ant. Well, well: away! 

Exeunt Antony, Cleopatra, and Enobarbus. 

Sold. By Hercules, I think I am i' the right. 

Can. Soldier, thou art; but his whole action 
grows 68 

Not in the power on 't: so our leader's led, 
And we are women's men. 

Sold. You keep by land 

The legions and the horse whole, do you not? 

Can. Marcus Octavius, Marcus Justeius, 72 

Publicola, and Caelius, are for sea; 
But we keep whole by land. This speed of Caesar's 
Carries beyond belief. 

Sold. While he was yet in Rome 

His power went out in such distractions as 76 

Beguil'd all spies. 

Can. Who's his lieutenant, hear you? 

Sold. They say, one Taurus. 

Can. Well I know the man. 

Enter a Messenger. 

Mess. The emperor calls Canidius. 
Can. With news the time's with labour, and throes 
forth 80 

Each minute some. Exeunt. 

68, 69 but his whole action . . . on't; cf. n. 
76 distractions : detachments, separate bodies 
80,81 With news the time's . . . some; cf. n. 



72 The Tragedy of 

Scene Eight 

[A Plain near Actium] 
Enter Ccesar [and Taurus] with his army, marching. 

Coes. Taurus ! 

Taur. My lord? 

Cees. Strike not by land; keep whole: provoke not 
battle, 
Till we have done at sea. Do not exceed 4 

The prescript of this scroll: our fortune lies 
Upon this jump. Exeunt. 

Enter Antony and Enobarbus. 

Ant. Set we our squadrons on yond side o' the 
hill, 
In eye of Caesar's battle; from which place 8 

We may the number of the ships behold 
And so proceed accordingly. Exeunt. 

Canidius marcheth with his land army one way 
over the stage; and Taurus, the lieutenant of 
C&sar, the other way. After their going in is 
heard the noise of a sea-fight. 

Alarum. Enter Enobarbus. 

Eno. Naught, naught, all naught! I can behold 
no longer. 
The Antoniad, the Egyptian admiral, 12 

With all their sixty, fly, and turn the rudder; 
To see 't mine eyes are blasted. 

Enter Scarus. 

Scar. Gods and goddesses, 

All the whole synod of them ! 

6 jump: venture 8 battle: line of battle 

12 admiral: flagship 15 synod: assembly 



Antony and Cleopatra, III. viii 73 

Eno. What's thy passion? 

Scar. The greater cantle of the world is lost 16 
With very ignorance; we have kiss'd away 
Kingdoms and provinces. 

Eno. How appears the fight? 

Scar. On our side like the token'd pestilence, 
Where death is sure. Yon ribaudred nag of Egypt, 20 
Whom leprosy o'ertake! i' the midst o' the fight, 
When vantage like a pair of twins appear'd, 
Both as the same, or rather ours the elder, 
The breese upon her, like a cow in June, 24 

Hoists sails and flies. 

Eno. That I beheld: 

Mine eyes did sicken at the sight, and could not 
Endure a further view. 

Scar. She once being loof'd, 

The noble ruin of her magic, Antony, 28 

Claps on his sea-wing, and like a doting mallard, 
Leaving the fight in height, flies after her. 
I never saw an action of such shame; 
Experience, manhood, honour, ne'er before 32 

Did violate so itself. 

Eno. Alack, alack! 

Enter Canidius. 

Can. Our fortune on the sea is out of breath, 
And sinks most lamentably. Had our general 
Been what he knew himself, it had gone well: 36 

O ! he has given example for our flight 
Most grossly by his own. 

Eno. Ay, are you thereabouts ? 

Why, then, good night, indeed. 

16 cantle: part 19 token'd pestilence: the plague with its marks 

20 ribaudred: wanton (?) 24 breese : gadfly 

27 loof'd: luffed, meaning here, probably, 'turned aside' 



74 The Tragedy of 

Can. Towards Peloponnesus are they fled. 40 

Scar. 'Tis easy to 't; and there I will attend 
What further comes. 

Can. To Caesar will I render 

My legions and my horse ; six kings already 
Show me the way of yielding. 

Eno. Ill yet follow 44 

The wounded chance of Antony, though my reason 
Sits in the wind against me. [Exeunt.] 



Scene Nine 
[Alexandria. A Room in the Palace] 

Enter Antony with Attendants. 

Ant. Hark ! the land bids me tread no more upon 't ; 
It is asham'd to bear me. Friends, come hither: 
I am so lated in the world that I 
Have lost my way for ever. I have a ship 4 

Laden with gold; take that, divide it; fly, 
And make your peace with Caesar. 

Att. Fly! not we. 

Ant. I have fled myself, and have instructed 
cowards 
To run and show their shoulders. Friends, be gone; 8 
I have myself resolv'd upon a course 
Which has no need of you; be gone: 
My treasure's in the harbour, take it. O ! 
I follow'd that I blush to look upon: 12 

My very hairs do mutiny, for the white 
Reprove the brown for rashness, and they them 
For fear and doting. Friends, be gone; you shall 
Have letters from me to some friends that will 16 

3 lated: belated 



Antony and Cleopatra,, III. ioc 75 

Sweep your way for you. Pray you, look not sad, 
Nor make replies of loathness ; take the hint 
Which my despair proclaims; let that be left 
Which leaves itself; to the sea-side straightway; 20 
I will possess you of that ship and treasure. 
Leave me, I pray, a little ; pray you now : 
Nay, do so ; for, indeed, I have lost command, 
Therefore I pray you. Ill see you by and by. 24 

Sits down. 

Enter Cleopatra, led by Charmian and [Iras,"\ 
Eros [following]. 

Eros. Nay, gentle madam, to him, comfort him. 

Iras. Do, most dear queen. 

Char. Do! Why, what else? 

Cleo. Let me sit down. O Juno! 28 

Ant. No, no, no, no, no. 

Eros. See you here, sir? 

Ant. O fie, fie, fie! 

Char. Madam! 32 

Iras. Madam ; O good empress ! 

Eros. Sir, sir! 

Ant. Yes, my lord, yes. He at Philippi kept 
His sword e'en like a dancer, while I struck 36 

The lean and wrinkled Cassius; and 'twas I 
That the mad Brutus ended: he alone 
Dealt on lieutenantry, and no practice had 
In the brave squares of war : yet now — No matter. 40 

Cleo. Ah ! stand by. 

Eros. The queen, my lord, the queen. 

Iras. Go to him, madam, speak to him; 
He is unqualitied with very shame. 44 

Cleo. Well then, sustain me : O ! 

39 Dealt on lieutenantry : foug ht by proxy 40 squares: squadrons 

44 unqualitied: divested of his manly qualities 



76 The Tragedy of 

Eros. Most noble sir, arise; the queen approaches: 
Her head's declin'd, and death will seize her, but 
Your comfort makes the rescue. 48 

Ant. I have offended reputation, 
A most unnoble swerving. 

Eros. Sir, the queen. 

Ant. O! whither hast thou led me, Egypt? See, 
How I convey my shame out of thine eyes 52 

By looking back what I have left behind 
'Stroy'd in dishonour. 

Cleo. O my lord, my lord ! 

Forgive my fearful sails: I little thought 
You would have follow'd. 

Ant. Egypt, thou knew'st too well 56 

My heart was to thy rudder tied by the strings, 
And thou shouldst tow me after; o'er my spirit 
Thy full supremacy thou knew'st, and that 
Thy beck might from the bidding of the gods 60 

Command me. 

Cleo. O ! my pardon. 

Ant. Now I must 

To the young man send humble treaties, dodge 
And palter in the shifts of lowness, who 
With half the bulk o' the world play'd as I pleas'd, 64 
Making and marring fortunes. You did know 
How much you were my conqueror, and that 
My sword, made weak by my affection, would 
Obey it on all cause. 

Cleo. Pardon, pardon! 68 

Ant. Fall not a tear, I say; one of them rates 
All that is won and lost. Give me a kiss ; 
Even this repays me. We sent our schoolmaster; 
Is he come back? Love, I am full of lead. 72 

52-54 How I convey . . . dishonour; cf. n. 

63 palter: use tricks 69 rates: is of equal value with 



Antony and Cleopatra, III. oc 77 

Some wine, within there, and our viands ! Fortune 

knows, 
We scorn her most when most she offers blows. 

Exeunt. 

Scene Ten 

[Egypt. Ccesar's Camp] 

Enter Ccesar, Agrippa, Dolabella, [Thy reus] 
with Others. 

Cces. Let him appear that's come from Antony. 
Know you him? 

Dol. Caesar, 'tis his schoolmaster: 

An argument that he is pluck'd, when hither 
He sends so poor a pinion of his wing, 4 

Which had superfluous kings for messengers 
Not many moons gone by. 

Enter [Euphronius] Ambassador from Antony. 

Cces. . Approach, and speak. 

Euph. Such as I am, I come from Antony: 
I was of late as petty to his ends 8 

As is the morn-dew on the myrtle-leaf 
To his grand sea. 

Cces. Be 't so. Declare thine office. 

Euph. Lord of his fortunes he salutes thee, and 
Requires to live in Egypt; which not granted, 12 
He lessens his requests, and to thee sues 
To let him breathe between the heavens and earth, 
A private man in Athens ; this for him. 
Next, Cleopatra does confess thy greatness, 16 

Submits her to thy might, and of thee craves 
The circle of the Ptolemies for her heirs, 

18 circle: crown 



78 The Tragedy of 

Now hazarded to thy grace. 

Cces. For Antony, 

I have no ears to his request. The queen 20 

Of audience nor desire shall fail, so she 
From Egypt drive her all-disgraced friend, 
Or take his life there ; this if she perform, 
She shall not sue unheard. So to them both. 24 

Euph. Fortune pursue thee ! 

Cces. Bring him through the bands. 

[Exit Euphronius.] 
[To Thy reus.] To try thy eloquence, now 'tis time; 

dispatch. 
From Antony win Cleopatra; promise, 
And in our name, what she requires; add more, 28 
From thine invention, offers. Women are not 
In their best fortunes strong, but want will perjure 
The ne'er-touch 5 d vestal. Try thy cunning, Thyreus ; 
Make thine own edict for thy pains, which we 32 
Will answer as a law. 

Thyr. Caesar, I go. 

Cces. Observe how Antony becomes his flaw, 
And what thou think'st his very action speaks 
In every power that moves. 

Thyr. Caesar, I shall. 36 

Exeunt. 

Scene Eleven 

[Alexandria. A Room in the Palace'] 

Enter Cleopatra, Enobarbus, Charmian, and Iras. 

Cleo. What shall we do, Enobarbus? 

Eno. Think, and die. 

25 bands: troops 34 flaw: crack {in his fortunes) 

35, 36 And what thou think'st . . . moves; cf. n. 



Antony and Cleopatra, III. oci 79 

Cleo. Is Antony or we, in fault for this? 

Eno. Antony only, that would make his will 
Lord of his reason. What though you fled 4 

From that great face of war, whose several ranges 
Frighted each other, why should he follow? 
The itch of his affection should not then 
Have nick'd his captainship; at such a point, 8 

When half to half the world oppos'd, he being 
The mered question. 'Twas a shame no less 
Than was his loss, to course your flying flags, 
And leave his navy gazing. 

Cleo. Prithee, peace. 12 

Enter [Euphronius~\ the Ambassador, with Antony. 

Ant. Is that his answer? 

Euph. Ay, my lord. 

Ant. The queen shall then have courtesy, so she 
Will yield us up? 

Euph. He says so. 

Ant. Let her know 't. 16 

To the boy Caesar send this grizzled head, 
And he will fill thy wishes to the brim 
With principalities. 

Cleo. That head, my lord ? 

Ant. To him again. Tell him he wears the rose 20 
Of youth upon him, from which the world should note 
Something particular; his coin, ships, legions, 
May be a coward's, whose ministers would prevail 
Under the service of a child as soon 24 

As i' the command of Caesar: I dare him therefore 
To lay his gay comparisons apart, 
And answer me, declin'd, sword against sword, 

5 ranges: ranks^ 8 nick'd: cut short 

10 mered question: sole ground of dispute (?) 11 course: pursue 

26 comparisons : advantages by comparison 27 declin'd: enfeebled 



80 The Tragedy of 

Ourselves alone. I'll write it: follow me. 28 

[Exeunt Antony and Euphronius.] 
Eno. [Aside.] Yes, like enough, high-battled Caesar 
will 
Unstate his happiness, and be stag'd to the show 
Against a sworder! I see men's judgments are 
A parcel of their fortunes, and things outward 32 
Do draw the inward quality after them, 
To suffer all alike. That he should dream, 
Knowing all measures, the full Caesar will 
Answer his emptiness ! Caesar, thou hast subdu'd 36 
His judgment too. 

Enter a Servant. 

Serv. A messenger from Caesar. 

Cleo. What! no more ceremony? See! my women; 
Against the blown rose may they stop their nose, 
That kneel'd unto the buds. Admit him, sir. 40 

[Exit Servant.] 

Eno. [Aside.] Mine honesty and I begin to square. 
The loyalty well held to fools does make 
Our faith mere folly; yet he that can endure 
To follow with allegiance a fall'n lord, 44 

Does conquer him that did his master conquer, 
And earns a place i' the story. 

Enter Thyreus. 

Cleo. Caesar's will? 

Thyr. Hear it apart. 

Cleo. - None but friends ; say boldly. 

Thyr. So, haply, are they friends to Antony. 48 
Eno. He needs as many, sir, as Caesar has, 
Or needs not us. If Caesar please, our master 

29 high -battled : having a lofty command 

30 Unstate: strip of state and dignity 31 sworder : gladiator 
32 parcel: part 48 haply: perhaps 



Antony and Cleopatra, III. oci 81 

Will leap to be his friend; for us, you know 
Whose he is we are, and that is Caesar's. 

Thyr. So, 52 

Thus then, thou most renown'd: Caesar entreats, 
Not to consider in what case thou stand'st, 
Further than he is Caesar. 

Cleo. Go on ; right royal. 

Thyr. He knows that you embrace not Antony 56 
As you did love, but as you fear'd him. 

Cleo. O! 

Thyr. The scars upon your honour therefore he 
Does pity, as constrained blemishes, 
Not as deserv'd. 

Cleo. He is a god, and knows 60 

What is most right. Mine honour was not yielded, 
But conquer'd merely. 

Eno. [Aside.] To be sure of that, 

I will ask Antony. Sir, sir, thou'rt so leaky, 
That we must leave thee to thy sinking, for 64 

Thy dearest quit thee. Exit Enobarbus. 

Thyr. Shall I say to Caesar 

What you require of him? for he partly begs 
To be desir'd to give. It much would please him, 
That of his fortunes you should make a staff 68 

To lean upon; but it would warm his spirits 
To hear from me you had left Antony, 
And put yourself under his shroud, 
The universal landlord. 

Cleo. What's your name? 72 

Thyr. My name is Thyreus. 

Cleo. Most kind messenger, 

Say to great Caesar this : in deputation 
I kiss his conqu'ring hand; tell him, I am prompt 

71 shroud: protection 74 in deputation : by proxy 



82 The Tragedy of 

To lay my crown at's feet, and there to kneel; 76 
Tell him, from his all-obeying breath I hear 
The doom of Egypt. 

Thyr. 'Tis your noblest course. 

Wisdom and fortune combating together, 
If that the former dare but what it can, 80 

No chance may shake it. Give me grace to lay 
My duty on your hand. 

Cleo. Your Caesar's father oft, 

When he hath mus'd of taking kingdoms in, 
Bestow'd his lips on that unworthy place, 84 

As it rain'd kisses. 

Enter Antony and Enobarbus. 

Ant. , Favours, by Jove that thunders! 

What art thou, fellow? 

Thyr. One that but performs 

The bidding of the fullest man, and worthiest 
To have command obey'd. 

Eno. [Aside.'] You will be whipp'd. 88 

Ant. Approach there! Ah, you kite! Now, gods 
and devils ! 
Authority melts from me: of late, when I cried 'Ho!' 
Like boys unto a muss, kings would start forth, 
And cry, 'Your will?' Have you no ears? I am 92 
Antony yet. 

Enter a Servant. 

Take hence this Jack and whip him. 
Eno. [Aside.] 'Tis better playing with a lion's 
whelp 
Than with an old one dying. 

Ant. Moon and stars! 

77 all-obeying: which all obey 91 muss: scramble 

93 Jack: common fellow 



Antony and Cleopatra, III. xi 83 

Whip him. Were 't twenty of the greatest tribu- 
taries 96 
That do acknowledge Caesar, should I find them 
So saucy with the hand of — she here, what's her 

name, 
Since she was Cleopatra? Whip him, fellows, 
Till, like a boy, you see him cringe his face 100 

And whine aloud for mercy; take him hence. 

Thyr. Mark Antony, — 

Ant. Tug him away; being whipp'd, 

Bring him again; this Jack of Caesar's shall 
Bear us an errand to him. 104 

Exeunt [Attendants'] with Thyreus. 
You were half blasted ere I knew you: ha? 
Have I my pillow left unpress'd in Rome, 
Forborne the getting of a lawful race, 
And by a gem of women, to be abus'd 108 

By one that looks on feeders? 

Cleo. Good my lord, — 

Ant. You have been a boggier ever: 
But when we in our viciousness grow hard, — 
O misery on 't! — the wise gods seel our eyes; 112 
In our own filth drop our clear judgments; make us 
Adore our errors; laugh at's while we strut 
To our confusion. 

Cleo. O ! is 't come to this ? 

Ant. I found you as a morsel, cold upon 116 

Dead Caesar's trencher; nay, you were a fragment 
Of Cneius Pompey's; besides what hotter hours, 
Unregister'd in vulgar fame, you have 
Luxuriously pick'd out; for, I am sure, 120 

105 blasted: withered 109 feeders: dependents 

110 boggier: waverer 112 seel: blind 

120 Luxuriously: lustfully 



84 The Tragedy of 

Though you can guess what temperance should be, 
You know not what it is. 

Cleo. Wherefore is this? 

Ant. To let a fellow that will take rewards 
And say 'God quit you !' be familiar with 124 

My playfellow, your hand; this kingly seal 
And plighter of high hearts. O ! that I were 
Upon the hill of Basan, to outroar 
The horned herd; for I have savage cause; 128 

And to proclaim it civilly were like 
A halter'd neck, which does the hangman thank 
For being yare about him. 

Enter a Servant with Thyreus. 

Is he whipp'd? 

First Att. Soundly, my lord. 

Ant. Cried he? and begg'd a' pardon? 132 

First Att. He did ask favour. 

Ant. If that thy father live, let him repent 
Thou wast not made his daughter; and be thou sorry 
To follow Caesar in his triumph, since 136 

Thou hast been whipp'd for following him: hence- 
forth, 
The white hand of a lady fever thee, 
Shake thou to look on 't. Get thee back to Caesar, 
Tell him thy entertainment; look thou say 140 

He makes me angry with him; for he seems 
Proud and disdainful, harping on what I am, 
Not what he knew I was : he makes me angry ; 
And at this time most easy 'tis to do 't, 144 

When my good stars, that were my former guides, 
Have empty left their orbs, and shot their fires 

124 quit: reward 

126-128 O! that I were Upon the hill . . . herd; cf. n. 



Antony and Cleopatra, III. oci 85 

Into the abysm of hell. If he mislike 
My speech and what is done, tell him he has 148 

Hipparchus, my enfranched bondman, whom 
He may at pleasure whip, or hang, or torture, 
As he shall like, to quit me: urge it thou: 
Hence with thy stripes ; be gone ! 152 

Exit Thyreus. 

Cleo. Have you done yet? 

Ant. Alack ! our terrene moon 

Is now eclips'd; and it portends alone 
The fall of Antony. 

Cleo. I must stay his time. 

Ant. To flatter Caesar, would you mingle eyes 156 
With one that ties his points ? 

Cleo. Not know me yet? 

Ant. Cold-hearted toward me? 

Cleo. Ah! dear, if I be so, 

From my cold heart let heaven engender hail, 
And poison it in the source; and the first stone 160 
Drop in my neck: as it determines, so 
Dissolve my life. The next Caesarion smite, 
Till by degrees the memory of my womb, 
Together with my brave Egyptians all, 164 

By the discandying of this pelleted storm, 
Lie graveless, till the flies and gnats of Nile 
Have buried them for prey ! 

Ant. I am satisfied. 

Caesar sits down in Alexandria, where 168 

I will oppose his fate. Our force by land 
Hath nobly held; our sever'd navy too 
Have knit again, and fleet, threat'ning most sea-like. 

149 enfranched : enfranchised 151 quit: be even with 

153 terrene: terrestrial 157 points: laves 

161 determines: comes to an end 165 discandying: dissolving 

171 fleet: are afloat 



86 The Tragedy of 

Where hast thou been, my heart? Dost thou hear, 
lady ? - 172 

If from the field I shall return once more 
To kiss these lips, I will appear in blood; 
I and my sword will earn our chronicle: 
There's hope in 't yet. 

Cleo. That's my brave lord ! 176 

Ant. I will be treble-sinew'd, hearted, breath'd, 
And fight maliciously; for when mine hours 
Were nice and lucky, men did ransom lives 
Of me for jests; but now I'll set my teeth, 180 

And send to darkness all that stop me. Come, 
Let's have one other gaudy night: call to me 
All my sad captains; fill our bowls once more; 
Let's mock the midnight bell. 

Cleo. It is my birth-day: 184 

I had thought to have held it poor; but, since my 

lord 
Is Antony again, I will be Cleopatra. 
Ant. We will yet do well. 

Cleo. Call all his noble captains to my lord. 188 
Ant. Do so, we'll speak to them; and to-night I'll 
force 
The wine peep through their scars. Come on, my 

queen ; 
There's sap in 't yet. The next time I do fight 
I'll make death love me, for I will contend 192 

Even with his pestilent scythe. 

Exeunt [all but Enobarbus], 
Eno. Now he'll outstare the lightning. To be 
furious 
Is to be frighted out of fear, and in that mood 
The dove will peck the estridge ; and I see still, 196 

179 nice: fastidious, particular 196 estridge: ostrich 



Antony and Cleopatra, IV A 87 

A diminution in our captain's brain 
Restores his heart. When valour preys on reason 
It eats the sword it fights with. I will seek 
Some way to leave him. 200 

Exit. 



ACT FOURTH 

Scene One 

[Before Alexandria. Cassar's Camp] 

Enter Caesar, Agrippa, and Maecenas, with his Army, 
Ccesar reading a letter. 

Cass. He calls me boy, and chides as he had power 
To beat me out of Egypt; my messenger 
He hath whipp'd with rods; dares me to personal 

combat, 
Caesar to Antony. Let the old ruffian know 4 

I have many other ways to die; meantime 
Laugh at his challenge. 

Mcec. Caesar must think, 

When one so great begins to rage, he's hunted 
Even to falling. Give him no breath, but now 8 

Make boot of his distraction: never anger 
Made good guard for itself. 

Cass. Let our best heads 

Know that to-morrow the last of many battles 
We mean to fight. Within our files there are, 12 
Of those that serv'd Mark Antony but late, 
Enough to fetch him in. See it done; 
And feast the army; we have store to do 't, 
And they have earn'd the waste. Poor Antony ! 16 

Exeunt. 

9 boot: profit 



88 The Tragedy of 

Scene Two 

[Alexandria. A Room in the Palace] 

Enter Antony, Cleopatra, Enobarbus, Charmian, Iras, 
Alexas, with Others. 

Ant. He will not fight with me, Domitius. 

Eno. No. 

Ant. Why should he not? 

Eno. He thinks, being twenty times of better for- 
tune, 
He is twenty men to one. 

Ant. To-morrow, soldier, 4 

By sea and land I'll fight: or I will live, 
Or bathe my dying honour in the blood 
Shall make it live again. Woo 't thou fight well? 

Eno. I'll strike, and cry, 'Take all.' 

Ant. Well said; come on. 8 

Call forth my household servants; let's to-night 
Be bounteous at our meal. 

Enter three or four Servitors. 

Give me thy hand, 
Thou hast been rightly honest; so hast thou; 
Thou; and thou, and thou: you have serv'd me well, 12 
And kings have been your fellows. 

Cleo. What means this? 

Eno. [Aside to Cleopatra.] 'Tis one of those odd 
tricks which sorrow shoots 
Out of the mind. 

Ant. And thou art honest too. 

I wish I could be made so many men, 16 

And all of you clapp'd up together in 
An Antony, that I might do you service 

5 or: either 



Antony and Cleopatra, IV. ii 89 

So good as you have done. 

Servants. The gods forbid! 

Ant. Well, my good fellows, wait on me to-night, 20 
Scant not my cups, and make as much of me 
As when mine empire was your fellow too, 
And suffer'd my command. 

Cleo. [Aside to Enobarbus.] What does he mean? 

Eno. [Aside to Cleopatra.'] To make his followers 
weep. 

Ant. Tend me to-night; 24 

May be it is the period of your duty: 
Haply, you shall not see me more; or if, 
A mangled shadow: perchance to-morrow 
You'll serve another master. I look on you 28 

As one that takes his leave. Mine honest friends, 
I turn you not away; but, like a master 
Married to your good service, stay till death. 
Tend me to-night two hours, I ask no more, 32 

And the gods yield you for 't! 

Eno. What mean you, sir, 

To give them this discomfort? Look, they weep; 
And I, an ass, am onion-ey'd: for shame, 
Transform us not to women. 

Ant . Ho, ho, ho ! 36 

Now, the witch take me, if I meant it thus ! 
Grace grow where those drops fall! My hearty 

friends, 
You take me in too dolorous a sense, 
For I spake to you for your comfort; did desire 
you 40 

To burn this night with torches. Know, my hearts, 
I hope well of to-morrow; and will lead you 
Where rather I'll expect victorious life 

25 period: end 33 yield: reward 



90 The Tragedy of 

Than death and honour. Let's to supper, come, 44 
And drown consideration. Exeunt. 

Scene Three 

{Before the Palace] 
Enter a Company of Soldiers. 

First Sold. Brother, good night; to-morrow is the 

day. 
Sec. Sold. It will determine one way ; fare you 

well. 
Heard you of nothing strange about the streets ? 
First Sold. Nothing. What news ? 4 

Sec. Sold. Belike, 'tis but a rumour. Good night 

to you. 
First Sold. Well, sir, good night. 

They meet other Soldiers. 

Sec. Sold. Soldiers, have careful watch. 
Third Sold. And you. Good night, good night. 8 
They place themselves in every 
corner of the stage. 
Fourth Sold. Here we : 

{They take their posts."] 
And if to-morrow 
Our navy thrive, I have an absolute hope 
Our landmen will stand up. 

Third Sold. 'Tis a brave army, 

And full of purpose. 

Music of the hautboys is under the stage. 
Fourth Sold. Peace! what noise? 

First Sold. List, list ! 12 

Sec. Sold. Hark! 

12 S. d. hautboys: wooden double-reed instruments of high pitch 



Antony and Cleopatra, IV. iv 91 

First Sold. Music i' the air. 

Third Sold. Under the earth. 

Fourth Sold. It signs well, does it not? 
Third Sold. No. 

First Sold. Peace, I say ! 

What should this mean? 

Sec. Sold. 'Tis the god Hercules, whom Antony 
lov'd, 16 

Now leaves him. 

First Sold. Walk ; let's see if other watchmen 

Do hear what we do. 

[They advance to another post.'] 
Sec. Sold. How now, masters ! 

[They] speak together. 
Omnes. How now ! — 

How now! — do you hear this? 

First Sold. Ay ; is 't not strange ? 

Third Sold. Do you hear, masters? do you 

hear? 20 

First Sold. Follow the noise so far as we have 

quarter ; 

Let's see how 't will give off. 

Omnes. Content. — 'Tis strange. Exeunt. 

Scene Four 

[A Room in the Palace] 

Enter Antony and Cleopatra, with Others. 

Ant. Eros ! mine armour, Eros ! 
Cleo. Sleep a little. 

Ant. No, my chuck. Eros, come; mine armour, 
Eros! 

16, 17 'Tis the god Hercules . . . leaves him; cf. n. 
21 have quarter: occupy positions 
2 chuck: chick, a term of endearment 



92 The Tragedy of 

Enter Eros [with armour]. 

Come, good fellow, put mine iron on: 

If Fortune be not ours to-day, it is 4 

Because we brave her. Come. 

Cleo. Nay, I'll help too. 

What's this for? 

Ant. Ah, let be, let be; thou art 

The armourer of my heart: false, false; this, this. 

Cleo. Sooth, la ! I'll help : thus it must be. 

Ant. Well, well; 8 

We shall thrive now. Seest thou, my good fellow? 
Go put on thy defences. 

Eros. Briefly, sir. 

Cleo. Is not this buckled well ? 

Ant. Rarely, rarely: 

He that unbuckles this, till we do please 12 

To daff 't for our repose, shall hear a storm. 
Thou fumblest, Eros; and my queen's a squire 
More tight at this than thou : dispatch. O love ! 
That thou couldst see my wars to-day, and knew'st 16 
The royal occupation, thou shouldst see 
A workman in 't. 

Enter an armed Soldier. 

Good morrow to thee ; welcome ; 
Thou look'st like him that knows a warlike charge: 
To business that we love we rise betime, 20 

And go to 't with delight. 

Sold. A thousand, sir, 

Early though 't be, have on their riveted trim, 
And at the port expect you. 

Shout. Trumpets flourish. 

13 daff: put off 15 tight: able 

22 riveted trim: armor 23 port: gate 



Antony and Cleopatra, IV. v 93 

Enter Captains and Soldiers. 

Capt. The morn is fair. Good morrow, general. 24 

All. Good morrow, general. 

Ant. 'Tis well blown, lads. 

This morning, like the spirit of a youth 
That means to be of note, begins betimes. 
So, so; come, give me that: this way; well said. 28 
Fare thee well, dame, whate'er becomes of me; 
This is a soldier's kiss. [Kisses her.] Rebukeable 
And worthy shameful check it were, to stand 
On more mechanic compliment; I'll leave thee 32 

Now, like a man of steel. You that will fight, 
Follow me close; I'll bring you to 't. Adieu. 

Exeunt [Antony, Eros, Captains, 
and Soldiers]. 

Char. Please you, retire to your chamber. 

Cleo. Lead me. 

He goes forth gallantly. That he and Caesar 

might 36 

Determine this great war in single fight! 

Then, Antony, — but now. — Well, on. Exeunt. 

Scene Five 

[Alexandria. Antony's Camp] 

Trumpets sound. Enter Antony and Eros [a Soldier 
meeting them]. 

Sold. The gods make this a happy day to Antony ! 
Ant. Would thou and those thy scars had once 
prevail'd 
To make me fight at land! 

Sold. Hadst thou done so, 

25 blown; cf. n. 



94 The Tragedy of 

The kings that have revolted, and the soldier 4 

That has this morning left thee, would have still 
Follow'd thy heels. 

Ant. Who's gone this morning? 

Sold. Who! 

One ever near thee: call for Enobarbus, 
He shall not hear thee ; or from Caesar's camp 8 

Say, 'I am none of thine.' 

Ant. What sayst thou? 

Sold. Sir, 

He is with Caesar. 

Eros. Sir, his chests and treasure 

He has not with him. 

Ant. Is he gone? 

Sold. Most certain. 

Ant. Go, Eros, send his treasure after; do it; 12 
Detain no jot, I charge thee. Write to him — 
I will subscribe — gentle adieus and greetings; 
Say that I wish he never find more cause 
To change a master. O ! my fortunes have 16 

Corrupted honest men. Dispatch. Enobarbus ! 

Exeunt. 



Scene Six 

{Before Alexandria. Caisar's Camp"] 

Flourish. Enter Agrippa, Casar, with Enobarbus 
and Dolabella. 

Caes. Go forth, Agrippa, and begin the fight: 
Our will is Antony be took alive ; 
Make it so known. 

Agr. Caesar, I shall. 4 

[Exit.] 



Antony and Cleopatra, IV. vi 95 

Cces. The time of universal peace is near: 
Prove this a prosperous day, the three-nook'd world 
Shall bear the olive freely. 

Enter a Messenger. 

Mess. Antony 

Is come into the field. 

Cces. Go charge Agrippa 8 

Plant those that have revolted in the van, 
That Antony may seem to spend his fury 
Upon himself. Exeunt \Ccesar and his Train], 

Eno. Alexas did revolt, and went to Jewry on 12 
Affairs of Antony; there did persuade 
Great Herod to incline himself to Caesar, 
And leave his master Antony: for this pains 
Caesar hath hang'd him. Canidius and the rest 16 
That fell away have entertainment, hut 
No honourable trust. I have done ill, 
Of which I do accuse myself so sorely 
That I will joy no more. 

Enter a Soldier of Ccesar's. 

Sold. Enobarbus, Antony 20 

Hath after thee sent all thy treasure, with 
His bounty overplus: the messenger 
Came on my guard; and at thy tent is now 
Unloading of his mules. 

Eno. I give it you. 24 

Sold. Mock not, Enobarbus. 
I tell you true: best you saf'd the bringer 
Out of the host; I must attend mine office 
Or would have done 't myself. Your emperor 28 

Continues still a Jove. Exit. 

6 three-nook'd : three-cornered {comprising Europe, Asia, Africa) 
26 saf'd: conducted safely 



96 The Tragedy of 

Eno. I am alone the villain of the earth, 
And feel I am so most. O Antony! 
Thou mine of bounty, how wouldst thou have paid 32 
My better service, when my turpitude 
Thou dost so crown with gold ! This blows my heart : 
If swift thought break it not, a swifter mean 
Shall outstrike thought; but thought will do 't, I 
feel. 36 

I fight against thee! No: I will go seek 
Some ditch, wherein to die; the foul'st best fits 
My latter part of life. Exit. 



Scene Seven 

[Field of Battle between the Camps] 
Alarum. Drums and trumpets. Enter Agrippa. 

Agr. Retire, we have engag'd ourselves too far. 
Caesar himself has work, and our oppression 
Exceeds what we expected. Exit. 

Alarums. Enter Antony, and Scarus wounded. 

Scar. O my brave emperor, this is fought indeed ! 4 
Had we done so at first, we had droven them home 
With clouts about their heads. 

Ant. Thou bleed' st apace. 

Scar. I had a wound here that was like a T, 
But now 'tis made an H. 

Ant. They do retire. 8 

Scar. We'll beat 'em into bench-holes : I have yet 
Room for six scotches more. 

34 blows: swells 

2 our oppression : the force by which we are overpowered 

6 clouts: bandage s 9 bench-holes: privy holes 

10 scotches : gashes 



Antony and Cleopatra, IV. viii 97 

Enter Eros. 

Eros. They are beaten, sir; and our advantage 
serves 
For a fair victory. 

Scar. Let us score their backs, 12 

And snatch 'em up, as we take hares, behind: 
'Tis sport to maul a runner. 

Ant. I will reward thee 

Once for thy sprightly comfort, and ten-fold 
For thy good valour. Come thee on. 

Scar. I'll halt after. Exeunt. 



Scene Eight 

[Under the Walls of Alexandria] 

Alarum. Enter Antony again in a march; Scarus, 

with Others. 

Ant. We have beat him to his camp; run one be- 
fore 
And let the queen know of our gests. To-morrow, 
Before the sun shall see's, we'll spill the blood 
That has to-day escap'd. I thank you all; 4 

For doughty-handed are you, and have fought 
Not as you serv'd the cause, but as 't had been 
Each man's like mine; you have shown all Hectors. 
Enter the city, clip your wives, your friends, 8 

Tell them your feats; whilst they with joyful tears 
Wash the congealment from your wounds, and kiss 
The honour'd gashes whole. [To Scarus. ~\ Give me 
thy hand: 

Enter Cleopatra [attended]. 

16 halt: limp 2 gests: deeds 8 clip: embrace 



98 The Tragedy of 

To this great fairy I'll commend thy acts, 12 

Make her thanks bless thee. O thou day o' the 

world ! 
Chain mine arm'd neck; leap thou, attire and all, 
Through proof of harness to my heart, and there 
Ride on the pants triumphing. 

Cleo. Lord of lords ! 16 

O infinite virtue! com'st thou smiling from 
The world's great snare uncaught ? 

Ant. My nightingale, 

We have beat them to their beds. What, girl ! though 

grey 
Do something mingle with our younger brown, yet ha* 
we 20 

A brain that nourishes our nerves, and can 
Get goal for goal of youth. Behold this man; 
Commend unto his lips thy favouring hand: 
Kiss it, my warrior: he hath fought to-day 24 

As if a god, in hate of mankind, had 
Destroy'd in such a shape. 

Cleo. I'll give thee, friend, 

An armour all of gold; it was a king's. 

Ant. He has deserv'd it, were it carbuncled 28 
Like holy Phoebus' car. Give me thy hand: 
Through Alexandria make a jolly march; 
Bear our hack'd targets like the men that owe them: 
Had our great palace the capacity 32 

To camp this host, we all would sup together 
And drink carouses to the next day's fate, 
Which promises royal peril. Trumpeters, 
With brazen din blast you the city's ear, 36 

Make mingle with our rattling tabourines, 

12 fairy: charmer 15 proof of harness: strength of armor 

31 owe: own 37 tabourines: drums 



Antony and Cleopatra, IV. ix " 

That heaven and earth may strike their sounds to- 
gether, 
Applauding our approach. Exeunt. 



Scene Nine 

[C cesar's Camp'] 

Enter a Sentry and his Company; Enobarbus follows. 

First Sold. If we be not reliev'd within this hour, 
We must return to the court of guard: the night 
Is shiny, and they say we shall embattle 
By the second hour i' the morn. 

Sec. Sold. This last day was 4 

A shrewd one to's. 

Eno. O ! bear me witness, night, — 

Third Sold. What man is this ? 

Sec. Sold. Stand close and list him. 

Eno. Be witness to me, O thou blessed moon, 
When men revolted shall upon record 8 

Bear hateful memory, poor Enobarbus did 
Before thy face repent! 

First Sold. Enobarbus ! 

Third Sold. Peace ! 

Hark further. 

Eno. O sovereign mistress of true melancholy, 12 
The poisonous damp of night disponge upon me, 
That life, a very rebel to my will, 
May hang no longer on me ; throw my heart 
Against the flint and hardness of my fault, 16 

Which, being dried with grief, will break to powder, 
And finish all foul thoughts. O Antony ! 

2 court of guard: guard house 

13 disponge: squeeze as from a sponge 



ioo The Tragedy of 

Nobler than my revolt is infamous, 

Forgive me in thine own particular ; 20 

But let the world rank me in register 

A master-leaver and a fugitive. 

O Antony! O Antony! [Dies.] 

Sec. Sold. Let's speak to him. 24 

First Sold. Let's hear him, for the things he speaks 
May concern Caesar. 

Third Sold. Let's do so. But he sleeps. 

First Sold. Swounds rather ; for so bad a prayer as 
his 
Was never yet for sleep. 

Sec. Sold. Go we to him. 28 

Third Sold. Awake, sir, awake ! speak to us. 

Sec. Sold. Hear you, sir ? 

First Sold. The hand of death hath raught him. 

Drums afar off. 
Hark! the drums 
Demurely wake the sleepers. Let us bear him 
To the court of guard; he is of note: our hour 32 

Is fully out. 

Third Sold. Come on, then; 
He may recover yet. Exeunt [with the body]. 



Scene Ten 

\T5etween the two Camps~\ 

Enter Antony and Scarus, with their Army. 

Ant. Their preparation is to-day by sea; 
We please them not by land. 

Scar. For both, my lord. 

20 in thine own particular : as far as you are concerned 
30 raught: seised 



Antony and Cleopatra, IV. oo 101 

Ant. I would they'd fight i' the fire or i' the air; 
We'd fight there too. But this it is; our foot 4 

Upon the hills adjoining to the city 
Shall stay with us; order for sea is given, 
They have put forth the haven, 

Where their appointment we may best discover 8 

And look on their endeavour. Exeunt. 

Enter Ccesar and his Army. 

Cobs. But being charg'd, we will be still by land, 
Which, as I take 't, we shall ; for his best force 
Is forth to man his galleys. To the vales, 12 

And hold our best advantage! Exeunt. 

Enter Antony and Scarus. 

Ant. Yet they are not join'd. Where yond pine 
does stand 
I shall discover all; 111 bring thee word 
Straight how 'tis like to go. Exit. 

Scar. Swallows have built 16 

In Cleopatra's sails their nests ; the augurers 
Say they know not, they cannot tell; look grimly, 
And dare not speak their knowledge. Antony 
Is valiant, and dejected; and, by starts, 20 

His fretted fortunes give him hope and fear 
Of what he has and has not. 

Alarum afar off, as at a sea fight. 

Enter Antony. 

Ant. All is lost! 

This foul Egyptian hath betrayed me; 
My fleet hath yielded to the foe, and yonder 24 

They cast their caps up and carouse together 
Like friends long lost. Triple-turn'd whore ! 'tis thou 

10 But being: unless we are 21 fretted: checkered 



102 The Tragedy of 

Hast sold me to this novice, and my heart 

Makes only wars on thee. Bid them all fly; 28 

For when I am reveng'd upon my charm, 

I have done all. Bid them all fly ; be gone. 

[Exit Scarus.] 
O sun! thy uprise shall I see no more; 
Fortune and Antony part here; even here 32 

Do we shake hands. All come to this? The hearts 
That spaniel'd me at heels, to whom I gave 
Their wishes, do discandy, melt their sweets 
On blossoming Caesar; and this pine is bark'd, 36 
That overtopp'd them all. Betray'd I am. 
O this false soul of Egypt! this grave charm, 
Whose eye beck'd forth my wars, and call'd them 

home, 
Whose bosom was my crownet, my chief end, 40 

Like a right gipsy, hath, at fast and loose, 
Beguil'd me to the very heart of loss. 
What, Eros ! Eros ! 

Enter Cleopatra. 

Ah! thou spell. Avaunt! 
Cleo. Why is my lord enrag'd against his love? 44 
Ant. Vanish, or I shall give thee thy deserving, 
And blemish Caesar's triumph. Let him take thee, 
And hoist thee up to the shouting plebeians ; 
Follow his chariot, like the greatest spot 48 

Of all thy sex; most monster-like, be shown 
For poor'st diminutives, for dolts; and let 
Patient Octavia plough thy visage up 
With her prepared nails. Exit Cleopatra. 

'Tis well thou'rt gone, 52 

29 charm: enchantress 34 spaniel'd: followed like a spaniel 

40 crownet: coronet 41 right: true 

50 diminutives: insignificant persons 



Antony and Cleopatra, IV, xi 103 

If it be well to live; but better 'twere 

Thou fell'st into my fury, for one death 

Might have prevented many. Eros, ho! 

The shirt of Nessus is upon me; teach me, 56 

Alcides, thou mine ancestor, thy rage; 

Let me lodge Lichas on the horns o' the moon; 

And with those hands, that grasp'd the heaviest club, 

Subdue my worthiest self. The witch shall die: 60 

To the young Roman boy she hath sold me, and I 

fall 
Under this plot; she dies for 't. Eros, ho! Exit. 



Scene Eleven 

[Alexandria. A Room in the Palace] 
Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Mardian. 

Cleo. Help me, my women ! O ! he is more mad 
Than Telamon for his shield; the boar of Thessaly 
Was never so emboss'd. 

Char. To the monument ! 

There lock yourself, and send him word you are 
dead. 4 

The soul and body rive not more in parting 
Than greatness going off. 

Cleo. To the monument ! 

Mardian, go tell him I have slain myself; 
Say that the last I spoke was 'Antony/ 8 

And word it, prithee, piteously. Hence, 
Mardian, and bring me how he takes my death. 
To the monument ! Exeunt. 

57 Alcides, thou mine ancestor; cf. n. 60 worthiest: noblest 

1,2 O! he is more mad . . . Thessaly; cf. n. 

3 emboss'd : foaming at the mouth 5 rive : are torn 



104 The Tragedy of 

Scene Twelve 

[Another Room] 

Enter Antony and Eros. 

Ant. Eros, thou yet behold'st me? 

Eros. Ay, noble lord. 

Ant. Sometimes we see a cloud that's dragonish; 
A vapour sometime like a bear or lion, 
A tower'd citadel, a pendent rock, 4 

A forked mountain, or blue promontory 
With trees upon 't, that nod unto the world 
And mock our eyes with air: thou hast seen these 

signs; 
They are black vesper's pageants. 

Eros. Ay, my lord. 8 

Ant. That which is now a horse, even with a 
thought 
The rack dislimns, and makes it indistinct, 
As water is in water. 

Eros. It does, my lord. 

Ant. My good knave, Eros, now thy captain is 12 
Even such a body: here I am Antony; 
Yet cannot hold this visible shape, my knave. 
I made these wars for Egypt; and the queen, 
Whose heart I thought I had, for she had mine, 16 
Which whilst it was mine had annex'd unto 't 
A million more, now lost; she, Eros, has 
Pack'd cards with Caesar, and false-play'd my glory 
Unto an enemy's triumph. 20 

Nay, weep not, gentle Eros; there is left us 
Ourselves to end ourselves. 

8 vesper's: evening's 

10 rack dislimns: the moving cloud mass causes to lose its outlines 

19 Pack'd cards: made a fradulent arrangement 



Antony and Cleopatra, IV. xii 105 

Enter Mardian. 

O! thy vile lady; 
She has robb'd me of my sword. 

Mar. No, Antony; 

My mistress lov'd thee, and her fortunes min gled 24 
With thine entirely. 

Ant. Hence, saucy eunuch; peace! 

She hath betray'd me and shall die the death. 

Mar. Death of one person can be paid but once, 
And that she has discharg'd. What thou wouldst 
do 28 

Is done unto thy hand; the last she spake 
Was 'Antony! most noble Antony!' 
Then in the midst a tearing groan did break 
The name of Antony; it was divided 32 

Between her heart and lips. She render'd life, 
Thy name so buried in her. 

Ant. Dead, then? 

Mar. Dead. 

Ant. Unarm, Eros; the long day's task is done, 
And we must sleep. [To Mardian.] That thou de- 
part'st hence safe, 36 

Does pay thy labour richly; go. Exit Mardian. 

Off, pluck off: 
The seven-fold shield of Aj ax cannot keep 
The battery from my heart. O ! cleave, my sides ; 
Heart, once be stronger than thy continent, 40 

Crack thy frail case! Apace, Eros, apace. 
No more a soldier; bruised pieces, go; 
You have been nobly borne. From me awhile. 

Exit Eros. 
I will o'ertake thee, Cleopatra, and 44 

Weep for my pardon. So it must be, for now 

39 battery: assault 40 continent: that w hich contains 



106 The Tragedy of 

All length is torture; since the torch is out, 

Lie down, and stray no further. Now all labour 

Mars what it does ; yea, very force entangles 48 

Itself with strength; seal then, and all is done. 

Eros! — I come, my queen. — Eros! — Stay for me: 

Where souls do couch on flowers, we'll hand in hand, 

And with our sprightly port make the ghosts gaze; 52 

Dido and her iEneas shall want troops, 

And all the haunt be ours. Come, Eros ! Eros ! 

Enter Eros. 

Eros. What would my lord? 

Ant. Since Cleopatra died, 

I have liv'd in such dishonour, that the gods 56 

Detest my baseness. I, that with my sword 
Quarter'd the world, and o'er green Neptune's back 
With ships made cities, condemn myself to lack 
The courage of a woman; less noble mind 60 

Than she, which by her death our Caesar tells 
'I am conqueror of myself.' Thou art sworn, Eros, 
That, when the exigent should come, — which now 
Is come indeed, — when I should see behind me 64 

The inevitable prosecution of 
Disgrace and horror, that, on my command, 
Thou then wouldst kill me: do 't; the time is come. 
Thou strik'st not me, 'tis Caesar thou defeatfst. 68 
Put colour in thy cheek. 

Eros. The gods withhold me! 

Shall I do that which all the Parthian darts, 
Though enemy, lost aim and could not? 

Ant. Eros, 

Wouldst thou be window'd in great Rome, and see 72 

48, 49 yea, very force . . . strength; cf. n. 

49 seal : bring to a conclusion 

52 port: bearing, demeanor 63 exigent: emergency 



Antony and Cleopatra, IV. ocii 107 

Thy master thus with pleach'd arms, bending down 

His corrigible neck, his face subdu'd 

To penetrative shame, whilst the wheel'd seat 

Of fortunate Caesar, drawn before him, branded 76 

His baseness that ensu'd? 

Eros. I would not see 't. 

Ant. Come, then; for with a wound I must be cur'd. 
Draw that thy honest sword, which thou hast worn 
Most useful for thy country. 

Eros. O, sir! pardon me. 80 

Ant. When I did make thee free, swor'st thou not 
then 
To do this when I bade thee? Do it at once, 
Or thy precedent services are all 
But accidents unpurpos'd. Draw, and come. 84 

Eros. Turn from me then that noble countenance, 
Wherein the worship of the whole world lies. 

Ant. Lo thee! [Turning from him.~\ 

Eros. My sword is drawn. 

Ant. Then let it do at once 88 

The thing why thou hast drawn it. 

Eros. My dear master, 

My captain, and my emperor, let me say, 
Before I strike this bloody stroke, farewell. 

Ant. 'Tis said, man; and farewell. 92 

Eros. Farewell, great chief. Shall I strike now? 

Ant. Now, Eros. 

Eros. Why, there then; thus do I escape the sor- 
row Kills himself. 
Of Antony's death. 

Ant. Thrice-nobler than myself! 

Thou teachest me, O valiant Eros, what 96 

73 pleach'd: folded 74 corrigible: submissive 

86 worship: dignity 



1( >8 The Tragedy of 

I should, and thou couldst not. My queen and Eros 

Have by their brave instruction got upon me 

A nobleness in record; but I will be 

A bridegroom in my death, and run into 't 100 

As to a lover's bed. Come, then; and, Eros, 

Thy master dies thy scholar: to do thus 

[Falls on his sword.] 
I learn' d of thee. How ! not dead ? not dead ? 
The guard, ho ! O ! dispatch me. 

Enter [Dercetas and] Guard. 

First Guard. What's the noise ? 104 

Ant. I have done my work ill, friends: O ! make an 
end. 
Of what I have begun. 

Sec. Guard. The star is fallen. 

First Guard. And time is at his period. 

All. Alas, and woe! 

Ant. Let him that loves me strike me dead. 

First Guard. Not I. 108 

Sec. Guard. Nor I. 

Third Guard. Nor any one. Exeunt [Guard]. 

Der. Thy death and fortunes bid thy followers fly. 
This sword but shown to Caesar, with this tidings, 112 
Shall enter me with him. 

Enter Diomedes. 

Dio. Where's Antony? 
Der. There, Diomed, there. 

Dio. Lives he? 

Wilt thou not answer, man? [Exit Dercetas.] 

Ant. Art thou there, Diomed? Draw thy sword, 
and give me 116 

98 instruction: teaching 99 A nobleness in record; cf. n. 



Antony and Cleopatra, IV. ooii 109 

Sufficing strokes for death. 

Dio. Most absolute lord, 

My mistress Cleopatra sent me to thee. 

Ant. When did she send thee? 

Dio. Now, my lord. 

Ant. Where is she? 

Dio. Lock'd in her monument. She had a proph- 
esying fear 120 
Of what hath come to pass; for when she saw — 
Which never shall be found — you did suspect 
She had dispos'd with Caesar, and that your rage 
Would not be purg'd, she sent you word she was 
dead ; 124 
But, fearing since how it might work, hath sent 
Me to proclaim the truth; and I am come, 
I dread, too late. 

Ant. Too late, good Diomed. Call my guard, I 
prithee. 128 

Dio. What, ho! the emperor's guard! The guard, 
what, ho ! 
Come, your lord calls ! 

Enter four or five of the Guard of Antony. 

Ant. Bear me, good friends, where Cleopatra 
bides ; 
'Tis the last service that I shall command you. 132 
First Guard. Woe, woe are we, sir, you may not 
live to wear 
All your true followers out. 

All. Most heavy day ! 

Ant. Nay, good my fellows, do not please sharp 
fate 
To grace it with your sorrows ; bid that welcome 136 

123 dispos'd: come to terms 124 purg'd: cleared away 



no The Tragedy of 

Which comes to punish us, and we punish it 
Seeming to bear it lightly. Take me up; 
I have led you oft; carry me now, good friends, 
And have my thanks for all. 140 

Exeunt, bearing Antony. 



Scene Thirteen 

[A Monument] 

Enter Cleopatra and her maids aloft, with Charmian 

and Iras. 

Cleo. O Charmian ! I will never go from hence. 

Char. Be comforted, dear madam. 

Cleo. No, I will not. 

All strange and terrible events are welcome, 
But comforts we despise; our size of sorrow, 4 

Proportion'd to our cause, must be as great 
As that which makes it. 

Enter [below] Diomedes. 

How now ! is he dead ? 
Dio. His death's upon him, but not dead. 
Look out o' the other side your monument; 8 

His guard have brought him thither. 

Enter [below] Antony [borne by] the Guard. 

Cleo. O sun! 

Burn the great sphere thou mov'st in ; darkling stand 
The varying shore o' the world. O Antony, 
Antony, Antony! Help, Charmian, help, Iras, 
help; 12 

Help, friends below! let's draw him hither. 

Ant. Peace ! 



Antony and Cleopatra, IV . ociii m 

Not Caesar's valour hath o'erthrown Antony, 
But Antony's hath triumph'd on itself. 

Cleo. So it should be, that none but Antony 16 
Should conquer Antony; but woe 'tis so! 

Ant. I am dying, Egypt, dying; only 
I here importune death awhile, until 
Of many thousand kisses the poor last 20 

I lay upon thy lips. 

Cleo. I dare not, dear, — 

Dear my lord, pardon, — I dare not, 
Lest I be taken: not the imperious show 
Of the full-fortun'd Caesar ever shall 24 

Be brooch'd with me; if knife, drugs, serpents, have 
Edge, sting, or operation, I am safe: 
Your wife Octavia, with her modest eyes 
And still conclusion, shall acquire no honour 28 

Demuring upon me. But come, come, Antony, — 
Help me, my women, — we must draw thee up. 
Assist, good friends. 

Ant. O ! quick, or I am gone. 

Cleo. Here's sport indeed ! How heavy weighs my 
lord ! 32 

Our strength is all gone into heaviness, 
That makes the weight. Had I great Juno's power, 
The strong-wing' d Mercury should fetch thee up, 
And set thee by Jove's side. Yet come a little, 36 
Wishers were ever fools. O! come, come, come; 

They heave Antony aloft to Cleopatra. 
And welcome, welcome ! die where thou hast liv'd ; 
Quicken with kissing; had my lips that power, 
Thus would I wear them out. 

All. A heavy sight! 40 

Ant. I am dying, Egypt, dying: 

25 brooch'd: adorned 28 still conclusion: quiet inference 

29 Demuring: looking demurely 39 Quicken: come to life 



112 The Tragedy of 

Give me some wine, and let me speak a little. 

Cleo. No, let me speak; and let me rail so high, 
That the false housewife Fortune break her wheel, 44 
Provok'd by my offence. 

Ant. One word, sweet queen. 

Of Caesar seek your honour with your safety. O ! 

Cleo. They do not go together. 

Ant. Gentle, hear me: 

None about Caesar trust, but Proculeius. 48 

Cleo. My resolution and my hands I'll trust; 
None about Caesar. 

Ant. The miserable change now at my end 
Lament nor sorrow at ; but please your thoughts 52 
In feeding them with those my former fortunes 
Wherein I liv'd, the greatest prince o' the world, 
The noblest; and do now not basely die, 
Not cowardly put off my helmet to 56 

My countryman; a Roman by a Roman 
Valiantly vanquish'd. Now my spirit is going; 
I can no more. 

Cleo. Noblest of men, woo 't die? 

Hast thou no care of me? shall I abide 60 

In this dull world, which in thy absence is 
No better than a sty ? O ! see, my women, 

[Antony dies.~\ 
The crown o' the earth doth melt. My lord! 
O! wither'd is the garland of the war, 64 

The soldier's pole is fall'n; young boys and girls 
Are level now with men; the odds is gone, 
And there is nothing left remarkable 
Beneath the visiting moon. [Swoons."} 

Char. O, quietness, lady! 68 

44 housewife : hussy 65 pole : pole-star, guiding star 

66 the odds is gone ; cf. n. 



Antony and Cleopatra, IV, ociii 113 

Iras. She is dead too, our sovereign. 

Char. Lady ! 

Iras. Madam ! 

Char. O madam, madam, madam ! 

Iras. Royal Egypt! 

Empress ! 

Char. Peace, peace, Iras ! 72 

Cleo. No more, but e'en a woman, and commanded 
By such poor passion as the maid that milks 
And does the meanest chares. It were for me 
To throw my sceptre at the injurious gods; 76 

To tell them that this world did equal theirs 
Till they had stol'n our jewel. All's but naught; 
Patience is sottish, and impatience does 
Become a dog that's mad; then is it sin 80 

To rush into the secret house of death, 
Ere death dare come to us? How do you, women? 
What, what ! good cheer ! Why, how now, Charmian ! 
My noble girls ! Ah, women, women, look ! 84 

Our lamp is spent, it's out. Good sirs, take heart; — 
We'll bury him; and then, what's brave, what's noble, 
Let's do it after the high Roman fashion, 
And make death proud to take us. Come, away ; 88 
This case of that huge spirit now is cold; 
Ah! women, women. Come; we have no friend 
But resolution, and the briefest end. 

Exeunt, [those above'] bearing 
off Antony's body. 

75 chares: chores, tasks 85 sirs; cf. n. 



* 14 The Tragedy of 

ACT FIFTH 

Scene One 

[Alexandria. Caesar's Camp~\ 

Enter Ccesar, Agrippa, Dolabella, Mcecenas, with 
[Gallus, Proculeius, and Others,] his Council of 
War. 

Cces. Go to him, Dolabella, bid him yield; 
Being so frustrate, tell him he mocks 
The pauses that he makes. 

Dol. Caesar, I shall. [Exit.] 

Enter Dercetas, with the sword of Antony. 

Cces. Wherefore is that? and what art thou that 
dar'st 4 

Appear thus to us? 

Der. I am call'd Dercetas ; 

Mark Antony I serv'd, who best was worthy 
Best to be serv'd; whilst he stood up and spoke 
He was my master, and I wore my life 8 

To spend upon his haters. If thou please 
To take me to thee, as I was to him 
I'll be to Caesar; if thou pleasest not, 
I yield thee up my life. 

Cces. What is 't thou sayst? 12 

Der. I say, O Caesar, Antony is dead. 

Coes. The breaking of so great a thing should make 
A greater crack; the round world 
Should have shook lions into civil streets, 16 

And citizens to their dens. The death of Antony 
Is not a single doom; in the name lay 

2,3 Being so frustrate . . . makes; cf. n. 16 civil: order ly 



Antony and Cleopatra, V.i us 

A moiety of the world. 

Der. He is dead, Caesar; 

Not by a public minister of justice, 20 

Nor by a hired knife; but that self hand, 
Which writ his honour in the acts it did, 
Hath, with the courage which the heart did lend it, 
Splitted the heart. This is his sword; 24 

I robb'd his wound of it; behold it stain'd 
With his most noble blood. 

Cces. Look you sad, friends? 

The gods rebuke me, but it is tidings 
To wash the eyes of kings. 

Agr. And strange it is, 28 

That nature must compel us to lament 
Our most persisted deeds. 

Mac. His taints and honours 

Wag'd equal with him. 

Agr. A rarer spirit never 

Did steer humanity; but you, gods, will give us 32 
Some faults to make us men. Caesar is touch'd. 

Mcec. When such a spacious mirror's set before him, 
He needs must see himself. 

Cces. O Antony ! 

I have f ollow'd thee to this ; but we do lance 36 

Diseases in our bodies: I must perforce 
Have shown to thee such a declining day, 
Or look on thine; we could not stall together 
In the whole world. But yet let me lament, 40 

With tears as sovereign as the blood of hearts, 
That thou, my brother, my competitor 
In top of all design, my mate in empire, 
Friend and companion in the front of war, 44 

The arm of mine own body, and the heart 

19 moiety: half 43 top of all design: in all high ambitions 



116 The Tragedy of 

Where mine his thoughts did kindle, that our stars, 

Unreconciliable, should divide 

Our equalness to this. Hear me, good friends, — 48 

Enter an Egyptian. 

But I will tell you at some meeter season: 
The business of this man looks out of him; 
We'll hear him what he says. Whence are you? 

Egyp. A poor Egyptian yet. The queen my mis- 
tress, 52 
Confin'd in all she has, her monument, 
Of thy intents desires instruction, 
That she preparedly may frame herself 
To the way she's forc'd to. 

Cces. Bid her have good heart; 56 

She soon shall know of us, by some of ours, 
How honourable and how kindly we 
Determine for her; for Caesar cannot live 
To be ungentle. 

Egyp. So the gods preserve thee! 60 

Exit. 

Cces. Come hither, Proculeius. Go and say, 
We purpose her no shame; give her what comforts 
The quality of her passion shall require, 
Lest, in her greatness, by some mortal stroke 64 

She do defeat us ; for her life in Rome 
Would be eternal in our triumph. Go, 
And with your speediest bring us what she says, 
And how you find of her. 

Pro. Csesar, I shall. 68 

Exit Proculeius. 

Cces. Gallus, go you along. [Exit Gallus.'] 

Where's Dolabella, . 

63 passion: feelings, state of mind 



Antony and Cleopatra, V. ii H7 

To second Proculeius? 

f/ r * i-Dolabella! 
Mcec. ) 

Cces. Let him alone, for I remember now 

How he's employ'd; he shall in time be ready. 72 

Go with me to my tent ; where you shall see 

How hardly I was drawn into this war; 

How calm and gentle I proceeded still 

In all my writings. Go with me, and see 76 

What I can show in this. Exeunt. 



Scene Two 
[The Monument] 

Enter [aloft,] Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and 
Mardian. 

Cleo. My desolation does begin to make 
A better life. 'Tis paltry to be Caesar; 
Not being Fortune, he's but Fortune's knave, 
A minister of her will ; and it is great 4 

To do that thing that ends all other deeds, 
Which shackles accidents, and bolts up change, 
Which sleeps, and never palates more the dug, 
The beggar's nurse and Caesar's. 8 

Enter [below,] Proculeius [Gallus, and Soldiers], 

Pro. Caesar sends greeting to the Queen of Egypt; 
And bids thee study on what fair demands 
Thou mean'st to have him grant thee. 

Cleo. What's thy name ? 

Pro. My name is Proculeius. 

Cleo. Antony 12 

6-8 Which shackles accidents . . . Caesar's; cf. n. 



118 The Tragedy of 

Did tell me of you, bade me trust you; but 

I do not greatly care to be deceiv'd, 

That have no use for trusting. If your master 

Would have a queen his beggar, you must tell him, 16 

That majesty, to keep decorum, must 

No less beg than a kingdom: if he please 

To give me conquer' d Egypt for my son, 

He gives me so much of mine own as I 20 

Will kneel to him with thanks. 

Pro. Be of good cheer; 

You're fall'n into a princely hand, fear nothing. 
Make your full reference freely to my lord, 
Who is so full of grace, that it flows over 24 

On all that need; let me report to him 
Your sweet dependancy, and you shall find 
A conqueror that will pray in aid for kindness 
Where he for grace is kneel'd to. 

Cleo. Pray you, tell him 28 

I am his fortune's vassal, and I send him 
The greatness he has got. I hourly learn 
A doctrine of obedience, and would gladly 
Look him i' the face. 

Pro. This I'll report, dear lady : 32 

Have comfort, for I know your plight is pitied 
Of him that caus'd it. 

Gal. You see how easily she may be surpris'd. 

[Proculeius and two of the Guard ascend the 
monument by a ladder, and come behind 
Cleopatra. Some of the Guard unbar 
and open the gates, discovering the lower 
room of the monument.] 

23 Make . . . reference: refer the whole matter 
27, 28 A conqueror . . . kneel'd to; cf. n. 



Antony and Cleopatra, V. ii 119 

[To Proculeius and the Guard.] Guard her till Caesar 
come. 36 

[Exit.] 

Iras. Royal queen! 

Char. O Cleopatra ! thou art taken, queen. 

Cleo. Quick, quick, good hands. 

[Drawing a dagger.] 

Pro. Hold, worthy lady, hold! 

[Seises and disarms her.] 
Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this 40 

Reliev'd, but not betray'd. 

Cleo. What, of death too, 

That rids our dogs of languish? 

Pro. Cleopatra, 

Do not abuse my master's bounty by 
The undoing of yourself; let the world see 44 

His nobleness well acted, which your death 
Will never let come forth. 

Cleo. Where art thou, death? 

Come hither, come ! come, come, and take a queen 
Worth many babes and beggars ! 

Pro. O ! temperance, lady. 48 

Cleo. Sir, I will eat no meat, I'll not drink, sir; 
If idle talk will once be necessary, 
I'll not sleep neither. This mortal house I'll ruin, 
Do Caesar what he can. Know, sir, that I 52 

Will not wait pinion'd at your master's court, 
Nor once be chastis'd with the sober eye 
Of dull Octavia. Shall they hoist me up 
And show me to the shouting varletry 56 

Of censuring Rome? Rather a ditch in Egypt 
Be gentle grave unto me ! rather on Nilus' mud 
Lay me stark nak'd, and let the water-flies 

56 varletry: rabble 



120 The Tragedy of 

Blow me into abhorring! rather make 60 

My country's high pyramides my gibbet, 
And hang me up in chains ! 

Pro. You do extend 

These thoughts of horror further than you shall 
Find cause in Caesar. 

Enter Dolabella. 

Dol. Proculeius, 64 

What thou hast done thy master Caesar knows, 
And he hath sent for thee; as for the queen, 
I'll take her to my guard. 

Pro. So, Dolabella, 

It shall content me best; be gentle to her. 68 

[To Cleopatra.'] To Caesar I will speak what you 

shall please, 
If you'll employ me to him. 

Cleo. Say, I would die. 

Exit Proculeius. 

Dol. Most noble empress, you have heard of me? 

Cleo. I cannot tell. 

Dol. Assuredly you know me. 72 

Cleo. No matter, sir, what I have heard or known. 
You laugh when boys or women tell their dreams; 
Is 't not your trick? 

Dol. I understand not, madam. 

Cleo. I dreamt there was an Emperor Antony: 76 
O ! such another sleep, that I might see 
But such another man. 

Dol. If it might please ye, — 

Cleo. His face was as the heavens, and therein 
stuck 
A sun and moon, which kept their course, and 
lighted 80 



Antony and Cleopatra^ V. ii 121 

The little O, the earth. 

Dol. Most sovereign creature, — 

Cleo. His legs bestrid the ocean; his rear'd arm 
Crested the world; his voice was propertied 
As all the tuned spheres, and that to friends; 84 

But when he meant to quail and shake the orb, 
He was as rattling thunder. For his bounty, 
There was no winter in 't, an autumn 'twas 
That grew the more by reaping; his delights 88 

Were dolphin-like, they show'd his back above 
The element they liv'd in; in his livery 
Walk'd crowns and crownets, realms and islands were 
As plates dropp'd from his pocket. 

Dol. Cleopatra, — 92 

Cleo. Think you there was, or might be, such a 
man 
As this I dreamt of? 

Dol. Gentle madam, no. 

Cleo. You lie, up to the hearing of the gods. 
But, if there be, or ever were, one such, 96 

It's past the size of dreaming; nature wants stuff 
To vie strange forms with fancy ; yet to imagine 
An Antony were nature's piece 'gainst fancy, 
Condemning shadows quite. 

Dol. Hear me, good madam. 100 

Your loss is as yourself, great; and you bear it 
As answering to the weight: would I might never 
O'ertake pursu'd success, but I do feel, 
By the rebound of yours, a grief that smites 104 

My very heart at root. 

Cleo. I thank you, sir. 

Know you what Caesar means to do with me? 

85 quail: overpower 88-90 his delights ... in; cf.n. 

92 plates: pieces of money 

97-99 nature wants stuff . . . fancy; cf. n. 



122 The Tragedy of 

Dol. I am loath to tell you what I would you 

knew. 
Cleo. Nay, pray you, sir, — 

Dol. Though he be honourable, — 108 

Cleo. He'll lead me then in triumph? 
Dol. Madam, he will; I know 't. Flourish. 

[Within] 'Make way there! — Caesar!' 

Enter Proculeius, Ccesar, Gallus, Maecenas and Others 
of his Train. 

Cass. Which is the Queen of Egypt? 

Dol. It is the emperor, madam. 112 

Cleopatra kneels. 

Cces. Arise, you shall not kneel. 
I pray you, rise; rise, Egypt. 

Cleo. Sir, the gods 

Will have it thus ; my master and my lord 
I must obey. 

Cces. Take to you no hard thoughts; 116 

The record of what injuries you did us, 
Though written in our flesh, we shall remember 
As things but done by chance. 

Cleo. Sole sir o' the world, 

I cannot project mine own cause so well 120 

To make it clear; but do confess I have 
Been laden with like frailties which before 
Have often sham'd our sex. 

Cces. Cleopatra, know, 

We will extenuate rather than enforce: 124 

If you apply yourself to our intents, — 
Which towards you are most gentle, — you shall find 
A benefit in this change; but if you seek 
To lay on me a cruelty, by taking 128 

120 project: exhibit 



Antony and Cleopatra, V. ii 123 

Antony's course, you shall bereave yourself 

Of my good purposes, and put your children 

To that destruction which I'll guard them from, 

If thereon you rely. I'll take my leave. 132 

Cleo. And may through all the world: 'tis yours; 
and we, 
Your scutcheons, and your signs of conquest, shall 
Hang in what place you please. Here, my good lord. 

Cobs. You shall advise me in all for Cleopatra. 136 

Cleo. [Giving a Scroll.'] This is the brief of 
money, plate, and jewels, 
I am possess'd of: 'tis exactly valued; 
Not petty things admitted. Where's Seleucus? 

Sel. Here, madam. 140 

Cleo. This is my treasurer; let him speak, my lord, 
Upon his peril, that I have reserv'd 
To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus. 

Sel. Madam, 144 

I had rather seal my lips, than, to my peril, 
Speak that which is not. 

Cleo. What have I kept back? 

Sel. Enough to purchase what you have made 
known. 

Coes. Nay, blush not, Cleopatra; I approve 148 

Your wisdom in the deed. 

Cleo. See ! Caesar ! O, behold, 

How pomp is follow'd; mine will now be yours; 
And, should we shift estates, yours would be mine. 
The ingratitude of this Seleucus does 152 

Even make me wild. O slave ! of no more trust 
Than love that's hir'd. What ! goest thou back ? thou 
shalt 

134 scutcheons: shields of armorial bearings 
139 Not petty things admitted: except for trifles 



124 The Tragedy of 

Go back, I warrant thee; but I'll catch thine eyes, 
Though they had wings: slave, soulless villain, 
dog ! 156 

O rarely base ! 

Cces. Good queen, let us entreat you. 

Cleo. O Caesar! what a wounding shame is this, 
That thou, vouchsafing here to visit me, 
Doing the honour of thy lordliness 160 

To one so meek, that mine own servant should 
Parcel the sum of my disgraces by 
Addition of his envy. Say, good Caesar, 
That I some lady trifles have reserv'd, 164 

Immoment toys, things of such dignity 
As we greet modern friends withal; and say, 
Some nobler token I have kept apart 
For Livia and Octavia, to induce 168 

Their mediation; must I be unfolded 
With one that I have bred ? The gods ! it smites me 
Beneath the fall I have. [To Seleucus.] Prithee, go 

hence ; 
Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits 172 

Through the ashes of my chance. Wert thou a man, 
Thou wouldst have mercy on me. 

Cces. Forbear, Seleucus. 

[Exit Seleucus.~\ 

Cleo. Be it known that we, the greatest, are mis- 
thought 
For things that others do; and, when we fall, 176 
We answer others' merits in our name, 
Are therefore to be pitied. 

Cces. Cleopatra, 

162 Parcel the sum: sum up 164 lady: feminine 

165 Immoment toys: trifles of no importance 

166 modern: ordinary 168 Livia; cf. n. 
169 unfolded: betrayed 170 With: fey 173 chance: fortune 
176-178 and, when we fall . . . pitied; cf. n. 



Antony and Cleopatra, V. ii 125 

Not what you have reserv'd, nor what acknowledg'd, 
Put we i' the roll of conquest: still be 't yours, 180 
Bestow it at your pleasure; and believe, 
Caesar's no merchant, to make prize with you 
Of things that merchants sold. Therefore be cheer'd ; 
Make not your thoughts your prisons: no, dear 
queen ; 184 

For we intend so to dispose you as 
Yourself shall give us counsel. Feed, and sleep: 
Our care and pity is so much upon you, 
That we remain your friend; and so, adieu. 188 

Cleo. My master, and my lord! 

Cces. Not so. Adieu. 

Flourish. Exeunt Ccesar and his Train. 

Cleo. He words me, girls, he words me, that I 
should not 
Be noble to myself: but, hark thee, Charmian. 

[Whispers Charmian.~\ 

Iras. Finish, good lady ; the bright day is done, 192 
And we are for the dark. 

Cleo. Hie thee again: 

I have spoke already, and it is provided; 
Go, put it to the haste. 

Char. Madam, I will. 

Enter Dolabella.^ 

Dol. Where is the queen? 

Char. Behold, sir. [Exit.] 

Cleo. Dolabella! 196 

Dol. Madam, as thereto sworn by your command, 

Which my love makes religion to obey, 

I tell you this: Caesar through Syria 

Intends his journey; and within three days 200 

182 prize: appraisement 190 words : flatters; cf. n. 



126 The Tragedy of 

You with your children will he send before. 
Make your best use of this; I have perform'd 
Your pleasure and my promise. 

Cleo. Dolabella, 

I shall remain your debtor. 

Dol. I your servant. 204 

Adieu, good queen; I must attend on Caesar. 

Cleo. Farewell, and thanks. Exit [Dolabella"}. 

Now, Iras, what think'st thou? 
Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shalt be shown 
In Rome, as well as I ; mechanic slaves 208 

With greasy aprons, rules and hammers, shall 
Uplift us to the view; in their thick breaths, 
Rank of gross diet, shall we be enclouded, 
And forc'd to drink their vapour. 

Iras. The gods forbid! 212 

Cleo. Nay, 'tis most certain, Iras. Saucy lictors 
Will catch at us, like strumpets, and scald rimers 
Ballad us out o' tune ; the quick comedians 
ExtemporaHy will stage us, and present 216 

Our Alexandrian revels. Antony 
Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see 
Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness 
I* the posture of a whore. 

Iras. O, the good gods ! 220 

Cleo. Nay, that's certain. 

Iras. I'll never see it; for, I am sure my nails 
Are stronger than mine eyes. 

Cleo. Why, that's the way 

To fool their preparation, and to conquer 224 

Their most absurd intents. 

213 lictors: officials attendant on Roman magistrates 

214 scald: wean 218,219 and I shall see . . . greatness; cf. n. 
220 posture: behavior 



Antony and Cleopatra, V, ii 127 

Enter Charmian. 

Now Charmian, 
Show me, my women, like a queen; go fetch 
My best attires; I am again for Cydnus, 
To meet Mark Antony. Sirrah Iras, go. 228 

Now, noble Charmian, we'll dispatch indeed; 
And, when thou hast done this chare, I'll give thee 

leave 
To play till doomsday. Bring our crown and all. 

[Exit Iras.] A noise within. 
Wherefore's this noise? 

Enter a Guardsman. 

Guard. Here is a rural fellow 232 

That will not be denied your highness' presence: 
He brings you figs. 

Cleo. Let him come in. Exit Guardsman. What 
poor an instrument 
May do a noble deed ! he brings me liberty. 236 

My resolution's plac'd, and I have nothing 
Of woman in me; now from head to foot 
I am marble-constant, now the fleeting moon 
No planet is of mine. 

Enter Guardsman and Clown [bringing in a basket]. 

Guard. This is the man. 240 

Cleo. Avoid, and leave him. [Exit Guardsman.] 

Hast thou the pretty worm of Nilus there, 

That kills and pains not? 

Clo. Truly, I have him ; but I would not 244 
be the party that should desire you to touch 
him, for his biting is immortal; those that do 
die of it do seldom or never recover. 

241 Avoid: withdraw 



128 The Tragedy of 

Cleo. Remember'st thou any that have died 

on 't? 248 

Clo. Very many, men and women too. I 
heard of one of them no longer than yesterday; 
a very honest woman, but something given to 
lie, as a woman should not do but in the way of 252 
honesty, how she died of the biting of it, what 
pain she felt. Truly, she makes a very good 
report o' the worm; but he that will believe all 
that they say shall never be saved by half that 256 
they do. But this is most fallible, the worm's 
an odd worm. 
Cleo. Get thee hence; farewell. 

Clo. I wish you all joy of the worm. 260 

[Sets down the basket.] 
Cleo. Farewell. 

Clo. You must think this, look you, that the 
worm will do his kind. 
Cleo. Ay, ay; farewell. 264 

Clo. Look you, the worm is not to be 
trusted but in the keeping of wise people; for 
indeed there is no goodness in the worm. 
Cleo. Take thou no care; it shall be heeded. 268 

Clo. Very good. Give it nothing, I pray you, 
for it is not worth the feeding. 
Cleo. Will it eat me? 

Clo. You must not think I am so simple 272 
but I know the devil himself will not eat a 
woman; I know that a woman is a dish for the 
gods, if the devil dress her not. But, truly, 
these same whoreson devils do the gods great 276 

257 fallible: mistake for 'infallible' m 

263 do his kind : act according to his nature 



Antony and Cleopatra, V. ii 129 

harm in their women, for in every ten that they 

make, the devils mar five. 

Cleo. Well, get thee gone; farewell. 

Clo. Yes, forsooth; I wish you joy of the 280 
worm. Exit. 

[Enter Iras, with a robe, crown, $c] 

Cleo. Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have 
Immortal longings in me; now no more 
The juice of Egypt's grape shall moist this lip. 284 
Yare, yare, good Iras; quick. Methinks I hear 
Antony call; I see him rouse himself 
To praise my noble act; I hear him mock 
The luck of Caesar, which the gods give men 288 
To excuse their after wrath: husband, I come: 
Now to that name my courage prove my title ! 
I am fire, and air; my other elements 
I give to baser life. So; have you done? 292 

Come then, and take the last warmth of my lips. 
Farewell, kind Charmian; Iras, long farewell. 

[Kisses them. Iras falls and dies.] 
Have I the aspic in my lips? Dost fall? 
If thou and nature can so gently part, 296 

The stroke of death is as a lover's pinch, 
Which hurts, and is desir'd. Dost thou lie still? 
If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world 
It is not worth leave-taking. 300 

Char. Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain; that I may 
say, 
The gods themselves do weep. 

Cleo. This proves me base: 

If she first meet the curled Antony, 
He'll make demand of her, and spend that kiss 304 

295 aspic: asp 



130 The Tragedy of 

Which is my heaven to have. Come, thou mortal 
wretch, 

[To the asp, which she applies to her breast.] 
With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate 
Of life at once untie; poor venomous fool, 
Be angry, and dispatch. O ! couldst thou speak, 308 
That I might hear thee call great Caesar ass 
Unpolicied. 

Char. O eastern star! 

Cleo. Peace, peace! 

Dost thou not see my baby at my breast, 
That sucks the nurse asleep? 

Char. O, break ! O, break ! 312 

Cleo. As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as gentle, — 
O Antony ! — Nay, I will take thee too. 

[Applying another asp to her arm.'] 
What should I stay — Dies. 

Char. In this vile world? So, fare thee well. 316 
Now boast thee, death, in thy possession lies 
A lass unparallel'd. Downy windows, close; 
And golden Phoebus never be beheld 
Of eyes again so royal! Your crown's awry; 320 

I'll mend it, and then play. 

Enter the Guard, rushing in. 

First Guard. Where is the queen? 
Char. Speak softly, wake her not. 

First Guard. Caesar hath sent — 
Char. Too slow a messenger. 

[Applies an asp.] 
O ! come apace, dispatch ; I partly feel thee. 324 
First Guard. Approach, ho! All's not well; 
Caesar's beguil'd. 

306 intrinsicate: intricate 



Antony and Cleopatra, V. ii 131 

Sec. Guard. There's Dolabella sent from Caesar; 

call him. 
First Guard. What work is here ! Charmian, is 

this well done? 
Char. It is well done, and fitting for a princess 328 
Descended of so many royal kings. 
Ah! soldier. Charmian dies. 

Enter Dolabella. 

Dol. How goes it here? 

Sec. Guard. All dead. 

Dol. Caesar, thy thoughts 

Touch their effects in this ; thyself art coming 332 
To see perform' d the dreaded act which thou 
So sought'st to hinder. 

[Within/] 'A way there! — a way for Caesar!' 

Enter C&sar and all his Train marching. 

Dol. O! sir, you are too sure an augurer; 
That you did fear is done. 

Cass. Bravest at the last, 336 

She levell'd at our purposes, and, being royal, 
Took her own way. The manner of their deaths? 
I do not see them bleed. 

Dol. Who was last with them? 

First Guard. A simple countryman that brought 
her figs: 340 

This was his basket. 

Cces. Poison'd then. 

First Guard. O Caesar ! 

This Charmian liv'd but now; she stood, and spake: 
I found her trimming up the diadem 
On her dead mistress; tremblingly she stood, 344 

332 effects: fulfilment 337 levell'd : guessed 



132 Antony and Cleopatra, V, ii 

And on the sudden dropp'd. 

Cces. O noble weakness ! 

If they had swallow' d poison 'twould appear 
By external swelling; but she looks like sleep, 
As she would catch another Antony 348 

In her strong toil of grace. 

Dol. Here, on her breast, 

There is a vent of blood, and something blown; 
The like is on her arm. 

First Guard. This is an aspic's trail ; and these fig- 
leaves 352 
Have slime upon them, such as the aspic leaves 
Upon the caves of Nile. 

Cces, Most probable 

That so she died; for her physician tells me 
She hath pursu'd conclusions infinite 356 

Of easy ways to die. Take up her bed; 
And bear her women from the monument. 
She shall be buried by her Antony: 
No grave upon the earth shall clip in it 360 

A pair so famous. High events as these 
Strike those that make them; and their story is 
No less in pity than his glory which 
Brought them to be lamented. Our army shall, 364 
In solemn show, attend this funeral, 
And then to Rome. Come, Dolabella, see 
High order in this great solemnity. Exeunt omnes. 

349 toil', net 350 vent: effusion blown: swollen 

356 conclusions: experiments 360 clip: enfold 

FINIS 



NOTES 

I. i. 12. triple pillar of the world. A reference "to 
the triumvirate, Octavius Caesar, Antony, and Lepi- 
dus, then governing the Roman world. 'After the 
murder of Caesar (44 B. C.) . . . Antony conceived 
the idea of making himself sole ruler . . . Brutus 
refused to surrender . . . and Antony set out to 
attack him in October, 44 B. C. But at this time 
Octavian, whom Caesar had adopted as his son, 
arrived from Illyria, and claimed the inheritance of 
his "father." Octavian obtained the support of the 
Senate and . . . Antony was defeated at Mutina 
(43 B. C.) where he was besieging Brutus. The con- 
suls, Aulus Hirtius and C. Vibius Pansa, however, 
fell in the battle, and the Senate became suspicious 
of Octavian, who . . . entered Rome at the head of 
his troops, and forced the Senate to bestow the con- 
sulship upon him. . . . Meanwhile Antony escaped 
. . . effected a junction with Lepidus, and marched 
towards Rome with a large force of infantry and 
cavalry. Octavian betrayed his party, and came 
to terms with Antony and Lepidus. The three lead- 
ers . . . adopted the title of Triumviri reipublicce 
constituendce as joint rulers. Gaul was to belong to 
Antony, Spain to Lepidus, and Africa, Sardinia, and 
Sicily to Octavian. . . . [The East was held for the 
Republic by Brutus and Cassius.] In the following 
year (42 B. C.) Antony and Octavian proceeded 
against the conspirators Cassius and Brutus, and by 
the two battles of Philippi annihilated the senatorial 
and republican parties. Antony proceeded to Greece, 
and thence to Asia Minor, to procure money for his 
veterans and complete the subjugation of the eastern 
provinces. On his passage through Cilicia in 41 B. C. 



*34 The Tragedy of 

he fell a victim to the charms of Cleopatra, in whose 
company he spent the winter in Alexandria. At 
length he was aroused by the Parthian invasion of 
Syria [by Labienus and Pacorus] and the report of 
an outbreak between Fulvia his wife and Lucius his 
brother, on the one hand, and Octavian on the other.' 
The Encyclopaedia Britannica, 'Marcus Antonius.' 

I. ii. S. d. Rannius, Lucillius. These characters 
take no part in the dialogue and do not appear again 
in the play. 

I. ii. 4-6. 01 that I knew this husband, which, you 
say, must charge his horns with garlands. The sooth- 
sayer apparently has been saying that Charmian will 
deceive her husband when she gets him. This, in the 
current Elizabethan phrase, was to make a cuckold 
of him, to give him invisible horns. That the horns 
were to be wreathed with garlands is a reflection, 
perhaps, upon the guile of Charmian. 

I. ii. 30. Herod of Jewry. The Herod of the 
New Testament, with a slanting reference in the 
context to the Three Kings from the East and their 
adoration of the infant Jesus. 

I. ii. 107. Labienus. Labienus, a republican gen- 
eral and therefore opposed to Antony (cf. I. i. 12, 
note), had united with Pacorus (cf. III. i. 1-5, note) 
and his Parthians, and had harried Syria and Asia 
Minor. 

I. ii. 133-135. The present pleasure, By revolu- 
tion lowering, does become The opposite of itself. 
What is pleasure (in this case the hope that Fulvia 
might die) revolves and becomes the opposite. 

I. ii. 206. the courser's hair. It was an old belief 
that a hair from a horse's tail or mane when thrown 
into water would sometimes take life and become a 
worm. 

I. iii. 68, 69. By the fire that quickens Nilus* 
slime. The reference is to the sun. 



A ntony and Cleopatra 1 3 5 

I. iii. 84, 85. How this Herculean Roman does 
become The carriage of his chafe. How becomingly 
this descendant of Hercules displays his irritation. 
Cleopatra is teasing Antony. 

I. iii. 90, 91. 0! my oblivion is a very Antony, 
And I am all forgotten. My memory deserts me like 
Antony; or, perhaps, 'I forget myself in thinking of 
Antony/ 

I. iv. 24. foils. Many editors have substituted the 
word soils, with the same meaning. 

I. v. 48. arm-gaunt. No very satisfactory expla- 
nation of this word has been offered. It is, perhaps, 
a misprint, possibly for 'rampaunt.' 

II. i. 26, 27. That sleep and feeding may prorogue 
his honour Even till a Lethe' d dulness! That with 
too much sleeping and eating any thought of his 
honor may be deferred until it sinks into dull forget- 
fulness. Lethe was the river of forgetfulness. 

II. ii. 7, 8. Were I the wearer of Antonius' beard, 
I would not shave 't to-day. I would permit Caesar 
to 'beard me,' that is, to defy me, if he dared. 

II. ii. 27. I should do thus. Apparently Antony 
either embraced, or shook hands with, Caesar. 

II. ii. 46-48. Your wife and brother Made wars 
upon me, and their contestation Was theme for you, 
you were the word of war. The passage is probably 
corrupt. Was theme 'd for you, and Was then for 
you have been suggested as emendations. The con- 
text indicates that the meaning is, 'their contesta- 
tion drew its cause from you ; you were the excuse for 
their going to war.' See especially 11. 98-102 of the 
present scene. 

II. ii. 67, 68. The third o' the world is yours, 
which with a snaffle You may pace easy, but not such 
a wife. You may control your share of the world as 



136 The Tragedy of 

easily as you can pace a good horse with a snaffle bit, 
but not such a wife. 

II. ii. 116. your considerate stone. I shall be 
thoughtful, but as dumb as a stone. 

II. ii. 140, 141. truths would be tales Where now 
half tales be truths. True reports of differences be- 
tween you would be regarded as tales, where now 
mere rumors are regarded as truth. 

II. ii. 144, 145. For 'tis a studied, not a present 
thought, By duty ruminated. For it is an idea sug- 
gested by duty and carefully considered, not a casual 
thought. 

II. ii. 158, 159. and never Fly off our loves again. 
And may our loves never fly apart again. 

II. ii. 213. And what they undid did. While cool- 
ing her cheeks they made them glow with apparent 
warmth. 

II. ii. 214-218. Her gentlewomen, like the Nere- 
ides, So many mermaids, tended her i' the eyes, And 
made their bends adornings. Deighton paraphrases 
as follows: — 'the mermaids {sic) waited upon her, 
ever observant of her wishes as shown by her looks, 
and lent fresh beauty to the picture by the grace 
with which they paid their homage.' It is possible, 
however, that by the phrase tended her i' the eyes 
Shakespeare had reference to the bow, where are the 
eyes, or hawse holes, for the tackle. North writes 
in the translation of Plutarch which Shakespeare 
used, 'some steering the helm, others tending the 
tackle and ropes of the barge.' the silken tackle 
Swell with the touches of those flower-soft hands. 
At the touch of their hands the ropes swell with 
delight. 

II. iii. 37, 38. his quails ever Beat mine, inhoop'd, 
at odds. His quails, fighting within a hoop, or ring, 
beat mine, even when the odds are against them. 

II. v. 3. let's to billiards. An anachronism. Bil- 



Antony and Cleopatra 137 

liards are not known to have been played in the 
Roman period. 

II. v. 23. his sword Philippan. The sword which 
Antony had worn at the battle of Philippi. 

II. v. 103. That art not what thou'rt sure of. 
The probable meaning is, 'thou art not the cause of 
that unwelcome information of which thou art so 
sure.' 

II. vi. 10-14. I do not know Wherefore my father 
should revengers want, Having a son and friends; 
since Julius Cassar, Who at Philippi the good Brutus 
ghosted, There saw you labouring for him. Why 
should my father, who has a son and friends, go 
unrevenged, when you labored at the battle of Phi- 
lippi in the cause of the dead Julius Caesar. 

II. vi. 27. Thou dost o'er-count me of my father's 
house. Antony, in the days of Julius Caesar, had 
professedly bought the property of Pompey senior, 
but actually confiscated it. 

II. vii. 7, 8. As they pinch one another by the 
disposition. As they irritate one another by refer- 
ences to subjects upon which one or the other is 
sensitive (?). 

II. vii. 13-15. I had as lief have a reed that will do 
me no service as a partisan I could not heave. A 
weapon that cannot be lifted is no more valuable than 
a reed. Lepidus' position does him little service since 
he is not great enough to fill it. 

II. vii. 16-19. To be called into a huge sphere, 
and not to be seen to move in % are the holes where 
eyes should be, which pitifully disaster the cheeks. 
To occupy an important position without doing any- 
thing is as bad as an empty socket where there should 
be an eye. 

III. i. 1-5. Now, darting Parthia, art thou 
struck; and now Pleas'd fortune does of Marcus 



138 The Tragedy of 

Crassus' death Make me revenger. Bear the king's 
son's body Before our army. Thy Pacorus, Orodes, 
Pays this for Marcus Crassus. The Parthians, who 
were famed for their shooting of arrows, especially 
when in retreat, had defeated and slain the Roman 
proconsul Marcus Crassus and later under Labienus 
and Pacorus (cf. note on I. ii. 107) had ravaged 
Asia Minor and Syria. Their defeat by Ventidius, 
with the slaying of Pacorus, son of the king Orodes, 
avenged the Roman dead. 

III. ii. 26, 27. as my furthest band Shall pass on 
thy approof. As the greatest security I can give 
shall be ventured on your conduct. 

III. ii. 51, 52. He has a cloud in's face. Eno. He 
were the worse for that were he a horse. A horse 
without a white mark, or star, on his forehead was 
supposed to have a mischievous or dogged disposi- 
tion. He was said to have a cloud in his face. 

III. iii. 3. Herod of Jewry. Herod, king of the 
Jews, was presented as a fierce blusterer in the 
miracle plays. 

III. iii. 33, 34. and her forehead As low as she 
would wish it. Low foreheads were not esteemed in 
Shakespeare's day, especially among the ladies. The 
words 'as low as she would wish it' are ironical. 

III. iv. S. d. Athens. Antony married Octavia in 
40 B. C. and took the eastern half of the Roman 
empire for his province. In 32 B. C. he repudiated 
Octavia, and in the same year war was declared by 
Octavius, against Cleopatra. The battle of Actium 
in 31 B. C. and the capture of Alexandria in 30 B. C, 
with the death of Antony and Cleopatra, immediately 
succeeded. There is, therefore, a space of about 
eight years between Act II, Scene 2 and Act III, 
Scene 4. Within this period came the agreement with 
Pompey, a renewal of the triumvirate, and a war 
with the Parthians in which Antony was unsuccess- 
ful. 



A ntony and Cleopatra 1 3 9 

III. iv. 4. made his will, and read it. This is a 
mistake on Shakespeare's part. It was Antony's will 
that Caesar took out of custody, read publicly, and 
criticised. 

III. v. 12, 13. so the poor third is up, till death 
enlarge his confine. This may be paraphrased: 'so 
the weak third member of the triumvirate is done for, 
until death set him free.' 

III. vi. 6. my father's son. Octavius Caesar was a 
grandnephew of Julius Caesar, but had been adopted 
by him as heir. Caesarion was son of Julius Caesar 
and Cleopatra. 

III. vi. 52, 53. which, left unshown, Is often left 
unlov'd. This may be paraphrased: 'Love, like mine, 
when it is not displayed, often fails to develop itself.' 

III. vi. 61. Being an abstract 'tween his lust and 
him. That is, Octavia's departure shortened the in- 
terval between Antony and Cleopatra, the object of 
his lust. Theobald and other editors read 'obstruct' 
in the sense of 'obstruction,' but the reference seems 
to be to 'which' in 1. 60 rather than to Octavia. 

III. vii. S. d. the Promontory of Actium. Actium 
is on the west coast of Greece above the Pelopon- 
nesus. The Antony of history seems to have chosen 
to fight here by sea, either because his army was 
short of provisions and declining in morale, or, and 
more probably, because the control of the Eastern 
Mediterranean was essential in order to safeguard 
his power over Egypt, Greece, and Asia Minor. 

III. vii. 5, 6. If not denounc'd against us, why 
should not we Be there in person? The meaning is, 
even if the war is not declared against us, i.e., Cleo- 
patra, there is no reason why we should not be there 
in person. Historically, the war was declared 
against Cleopatra, not Antony. 

III. vii. 25, 26. A good rebuke, Which might have 
well becom'd the best of men. This may be para- 



1^0 The Tragedy of 

phrased: 'The best of men might so have rebuked 
me/ 

III. vii. 68, 69. but his whole action grows Not 
in the power on % Perhaps this means: 'but his 
whole action develops not according to the power 
(Antony's ability and resources) on which it should 
be based.' 

III. vii. 80, 81. With news the time's with labour, 
and throes forth Each minute some. This may be 
paraphrased: 'The time gives birth each minute to 
some piece of news.' 

III. ix. 52-54. How I convey my shame out of 
thine eyes By looking bach what I have left behind 
'Stroy'd in dishonour. This may be paraphrased: 
'How I carry my shame out of thy sight by looking 
back toward the career I have left behind me, now 
destroyed by dishonour.' 

III. x. 35, 36. And what thou think'st his very 
action speaks In every power that moves. This may 
be paraphrased: 'And what thou think'st his actions 
themselves indicate as to his state of mind.' 

III. xi. 126-128. 0! that I were Upon the hill of 
Basan, to outroar The horned herd. An allusion 
(most improbable for the historical Antony) to Ps. 
22. 12. There is a play upon horned as a symbol of 
a husband deceived by his wife. 

IV. iii. 16, 17. "Tis the god Hercules, whom An^ 
tony lov'd, Now leaves him. 'This opinion (that the 
Antonii were descended from Hercules) did Antonius 
seeke to confirme in all his doings; not onely resem- 
bling him in the liknesse of his bodie . . . but also 
in the wearing of his garments.' North's Plutarch. 

IV. iv. 25. 'Tis well blown, lads. The reference 
may be either to the trumpets, or to the morning. 

IV. x. 57. Alcides, thou mine ancestor. Hercules. 
Cf. note on IV. iii. 16, 17. For Lichas and the shirt 
of Nessus, see the story of Hercules. 



Antony and Cleopatra 14>1 

IV. xi. 1, 2. 01 he is more mad Than Telamon for 
his shield; the boar of Thessaly. 'That is, than Ajax 
Telamon for the armour of Achilles, the most valu- 
able part of which was the shield. "The boar of 
Thessaly" was the boar killed by Meleager.' 
Steevens. 

IV. xii. 48, 49. yea, very force entangles Itself 
with strength. Power to go on merely interferes with 
the strength to die. 

IV. xii. 99. A nobleness in record. That is, they 
have gained an advantage in nobility over him in the, 
record of great deeds. Cf. III. xi. 46, 'And earns a 
place i' the story.' 

IV. xiii. 66. the odds is gone. 'There is now no 
longer any difference between youth and age, high 
and low, rich and poor.' Furness. 

IV. xiii. 85. sirs. Sometimes used in addressing 
women. 

V. i. 2, 3. Being so frustrate, tell him he mocks 
The pauses that he makes. Being so utterly de- 
feated, he makes mockery of the time he uses for 
delay. 

V. ii. 6-8. Which shackles accidents and bolts up 
change, Which sleeps and never palates more the 
dug, The beggar's nurse and Ccesar's. This may be 
paraphrased: 'Death, which prevents further acci- 
dents and stops change; death, the beggars' nurse 
and Caesar's, which makes man like a babe who 
sleeps and cares no more for the breast of its 
mother.' The First Folio has dung for dug, but this 
his been generally though not universally emended. 

V. ii. 27, 28. A conqueror that will pray in aid for 
kindness Where he for grace is kneeVd to. Freely 
paraphrased this means, 'A conqueror who, if he is 
asked for grace, will help you to obtain it.' 

V. ii. 88-90. his delights Were dolphin-like, they 
show'd his back above The element they liv'd in. Ap- 



142 The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra 

parently this means that even as the dolphin shows 
his back above water, so Antony's superiority was 
always shown in the pleasures in which he indulged. 

V. ii. 97-99. nature wants stuff To vie strange 
forms with fancy; yet to imagine An Antony were 
nature's piece 'gainst fancy. Nature cannot com- 
pete with fancy in devising strange forms; yet when 
she imagined an Antony she presented a piece worth 
entering against the best that fancy could do. 

V. ii. 168. Livia. Livia was wife of Octavius 
Caesar. He married her in 38 B. C. Charmian's 
wish (I. ii. 31), that she might marry Octavius and 
be companioned with her mistress, came three years 
earlier. 

V. ii. 176-178. and, when we fall, We answer 
others' merits, in our name, Are therefore to be pitied. 
If 'merits' be taken, as Dr. Johnson suggested, 'in an 
ill sense,' to mean 'demerits,' this passage becomes 
comprehensible. 

V. ii. 190. he words me. The narrative in Plu- 
tarch makes it clear that Cleopatra in this scene 
intended to deceive Caesar by her seeming desire to 
keep much of her wealth. She hoped to delude him 
into thinking that her purpose was no longer suicide. 
Plutarch says of Caesar, 'So he tooke his leave of 
her, supposing he had deceived her, but indeede he 
was deceived himself.' There is at least an intima- 
tion that Seleucus was playing a part in collusion 
with Cleopatra. 

V. ii. 218, 219. and I shall see Some squeaking 
Cleopatra boy my greatness. The reference is to 
the boys who took women's parts in the Elizabethan 
theatre. Their voices sometimes cracked. 



APPENDIX A 

Source of the Play 

Shakespeare took the story of Antony and Cleo- 
patra, much of the characterization, and not a little 
of the language from Plutarch's Lives of the Noble 
Grecians and Romans, Compared Together, as trans- 
lated by Sir Thomas North (1st ed. 1579). This most 
notable among biographies is first of all a study of 
character and hence lent itself here, as in the case of 
Julius C&sar, to the purpose of the dramatist. 

The story of Antony and Cleopatra as Shakespeare 
tells it is much abridged from Plutarch. The events 
between Antony's marriage with Octavia in 40 B. C. 
and the battle of Actium in 31 B. C. contain little of 
dramatic interest. Antony's unsuccessful Parthian 
campaign would have only hindered the narrative; 
and Shakespeare wisely omits and condenses. Even 
so, the mosaic of little scenes in the third and fourth 
acts represents the dramatist's difficulty with a sweep 
of history so extensive. Shakespeare invents no 
action of importance; he regarded his source as his- 
tory, and was faithful to it; but it was not the 
Roman empire and its fate which interested him. 
Indeed, his view of the Roman world and the prob- 
lems of a vast international organization is quite 
without comprehension, as one would expect from 
an inhabitant of a self-contained England just 
emerging from medievalism. Rather he viewed these 
adventures of Rome in the East as a romantic setting 
merely for a great and human story of a lover who 
loved not wisely, but too well. 

In language, as in plot, Shakespeare displays here 
his accustomed economy. Wherever North's expres- 
sive prose may be raised into poetry, he does so with 



144 The Tragedy of 

little change of vocabulary. He tears out words, 
phrases, sentences from his source, and rebuilds ac- 
cording to his own design. Sometimes the sugges- 
tions in North are so good that the dramatist has 
scarcely improved upon them. But usually his ren- 
dering makes all the difference between fair prose 
and great poetry. Compare the lines in Shakespeare 
(IV. xiii. 51-58) with this from North: 

'And as for himselfe, that she should not lament 
nor sorow for the miserable chaunge of his fortune 
at the end of his dayes: but rather that she should 
thinke him the more fortunate, for the former tri- 
umphes & honours he had received, considering that 
while he lived he was the noblest and greatest Prince 
of the world, & that now he was overcome, not 
cowardly, but valiantly, a Romaine by an other 
Romaine/ 

This represents perhaps the extreme of depend- 
ence. A fairer idea of the relationship between the 
two texts may be gained by considering also this 
which follows in comparison with III. ix. Here the 
first sentence, which merely records a dramatic situa- 
tion, has served as the suggestion for a great scene. 

'When he arrived at the head of Taenarus, there 
Cleopatraes women first brought Antonius and Cleo- 
patra to speake together, . . . Now for himself, he 
determined to cross over into Africk, & took one of 
his carects or hulks loden with gold, ... & gave it 
unto his friends: commanding them to depart, and 
to seek to save themselves. They answered him 
weeping, that they would neither doe it, nor yet 
forsake him. Then Antonius verie courteously and 
lovingly did comfort them, and prayed them to de- 
part: and wrote unto Theophilus governour of 
Corinthe, that he would see them safe, & helpe to 
hide them in some secret place, untill they had made 
their way & peace with Caesar.' 



Antony and Cleopatra 145 

Shakespeare adds only one important personality 
to the drama, that of the cool and slightly cynical 
Enobarbus, who in Plutarch is little more than a 
name. To Cleopatra he gives that nobleness in sensu- 
ality and unwithering charm which has made the 
creature of his imagination far more real than the 
historical figure of the great queen. Antony gains 
also. The man himself, as Plutarch conceived of 
him, was nobler than his deeds. This Shakespeare 
realized, and without changing the story of his deg- 
radation, gives his hero words which reveal the 
generous emotion and noble mind of a hero. The 
play lives, however, chiefly because of the seductive 
splendor of Cleopatra, the most feminine and the 
most pagan of Shakespeare's women. 



APPENDIX B 
The History of the Play 

An entry in the Stationers' Register dated May 
20, 1608, lists 'A booke Called. Antony and Cleo- 
patra.' It is not certain that this is Shakespeare's 
play, but probabilities strongly favor such a con- 
clusion. Internal evidence of versification, and the 
tone and temper of the story alike indicate that 
Antony and Cleopatra was written after Macbeth, 
but before Timon of Athens and Coriolanus, which, 
like the earlier Julius Caesar, were also largely drawn 
from North's Plutarch. We may safely date the play 
in 1607-1608. 

There is no evidence, however, that Antony and 
Cleopatra was printed at this time, nor is there any 
trustworthy contemporary reference to a perform- 
ance. Our first real knowledge, and our sole text 
of Antony and Cleopatra, come from the First Folio 



146 The Tragedy of 

of 1623, where it is printed between Othello and 
Cymbeline. 

Nothing whatsoever is known of the stage history 
of Antony and Cleopatra in Shakespeare's own day. 
It ..must have been extraordinarily difficult to find a 
youth, even among the excellent young actors of the 
period, who could 'boy' the 'greatness' of Cleopatra. 
After the Restoration, Dryden's reworking of the 
story in All for Love took its place and held popu- 
lar favor at least until 1788, when Mrs. Siddons 
appeared as Cleopatra, and was still being acted as 
late as 1818. The great actor, Garrick, revived 
Shakespeare's own tragedy in 1758-1759, but without 
success. In 1813 Young and Mrs. Faucit gave an 
acting version of the play at Covent Garden, and in 
1833 Macready also revived it, with remarkable 
scenery, but little popular favor. Phelps included 
Antony and Cleopatra in a series of Shakespeare re- 
vivals at the Sadler's Wells Theatre, Clerkenwell, 
London, in 1849. Thanks, apparently, to Miss Glyn's 
Cleopatra and to the conscientious acting character- 
istic of all these revivals, the play was this time well 
received, and ran for some time. Miss Glyn repeated 
her success in later years. Although Miss Rose 
Eytinge, in 1878, Kyrle Bellew, in 1889, and Mme. 
Modjeska, in 1898-1899, seem to have had fairly suc- 
cessful seasons in America, and Sir F. R. Benson 
and Ben Greet in later times also presented the 
play, there was no other really important revival of 
Antony and Cleopatra until Sir Herbert Tree in 
1906-1907 rather sumptuously put it on in London. 
Contemporary criticism, however, gives the impres- 
sion that it was the splendor of the setting as much 
as the play itself which drew praise from the audi- 
ences. A very satisfactory presentation was that of 
the New Theatre in New York in 1910, when both 
cast and scenery were of great excellence. And yet 



Antony and Cleopatra 147 

the best judgment of those who saw the performance 
was that Antony and Cleopatra is not a good acting 
play. Its fire is too scattering, its plot too broken, 
and the conflict between the imperial interests of the 
story and the human interest of the love affair is 
never entirely resolved. In sum, Cleopatra is one of 
Shakespeare's greatest characterizations, Antony is 
only less high in the register, certain scenes are 
among Shakespeare's very best, but the play as a 
whole lacks that continuity of dramatic interest and 
unity of situation which are necessary for complete 
theatrical success. 

In all fairness it should be added, however, that 
Antony and Cleopatra, with its profusion of scenes 
and rapid shift of place, is particularly injured by 
the usual conditions of modern stage presentation. 
And it is further prejudiced by the temptation (ap- 
parently irresistible) to overload its more triumphant 
scenes with stage decoration, by which the action is 
still more impeded. Apparently the play has never 
had a truly Shakespearean performance since Jaco- 
bean days. Professor Ashley H. Thorndike, in 
Shakespeare's Theater, pp. 124-125, presents a 
scheme by which the third and fourth acts could be 
given panoramic continuity and rapidity without 
confusion, by the use of the inner stage and its cur- 
tains as they were in the theatre of 1608. 

Many other writers have taken the story of Cleo- 
patra for dramatic presentation. The theme has 
been especially popular in France, from the Cleopatre 
Captive of Estienne Jodelle in 1552, the first tragedy 
to appear in the French language, on into the nine- 
teenth century, including the version by Marmontel, 
where an automatic asp hissed at the breast of Cleo- 
patra in a day when hissing in the theatre was for- 
bidden. 'Je suis de l'avis de l'aspic,' said a man 
in the audience, and the play failed. In English, 



148 The Tragedy of 

The Tragedie of Cleopatra, which Samuel Daniel 
modelled after the tragedies of Seneca, antedates 
Shakespeare. The False One, written by Fletcher 
and Massinger about 1620, goes back to the 'salad 
days' of Cleopatra for its story; and so does the 
Caesar and Cleopatra of Bernard Shaw. But the 
only play upon this theme which has seriously chal- 
lenged comparison with Shakespeare is, curiously 
enough, Dry den's All for Love, written in avowed 
imitation. 'In my stile I have profess'd to imitate 
the Divine Shakespeare,' says Dryden in his Preface, 
and writes blank verse accordingly; and again and 
quite truly, 'Yet I hope I may affirm, and without 
vanity, that by imitating him, I have excell'd myself 
throughout the play.' What he did was to regularize 
Shakespeare's story by reducing it to unity as the 
French critics understood the word. It is probable 
that he did succeed in making a better acting play by 
his concentration of the story, but the character of 
Antony suffers degradation, Cleopatra loses her 
charm, and the whole action of the piece moves on 
lower levels of poetry and human experience. 

A full account of the various dramatic versions of 
the Cleopatra story may be found in the Appendix to 
the Variorum edition of H. H. Furness. 



APPENDIX C 
The Text 

There is no known quarto edition of Antony and 
Cleopatra. The earliest edition is, therefore, that 
of the First Folio of 1623. 

The text of the present edition is by permission 
that of Craig's Oxford Shakespeare, published by the 
Oxford University Press. Deviations from the Ox- 



Antony and Cleopatra 149 

ford text have been made in a few places, where the 
reading of the First Folio has been restored, or where 
a different emendation has been adopted. The stage 
directions, in general, have been restored to the read- 
ing of the First Folio, although the usual modern 
additions of place of scene have been retained. All 
such supplementary directions have been inclosed in 
brackets. Minor changes of spelling and punctuation 
in the text have not been listed. 

The list of departures from the Oxford text fol- 
lows, Craig's readings being those after the colons: 

o'erflowing (o're-flowing F) : overflowing 

minds: winds F 

You may go? F: You may go: 

foils F: soils 

we: me F 

What was he, sad or merry?: What! was he 

sad or merry? 
farther F: further 

As matter whole you have not to make it with: 
As matter whole you n' have to make it 
with (As matter whole you have to make 
it with F) 
140 truths would be tales F: truths would be but 
tales 
iii. 19 Thy demon, that thy spirit which keeps thee, 
is F: Thy demon — that's thy spirit which 
keeps thee, — is 
III. ii. 58,59 What willingly he did confound he wail'd; 
Believe 't, till I weep too: What willingly 
he did confound he wail'd, Believe 't, till I 
wept too 
vi. 61 abstract F : obstruct 
vii.31 this F: his 
IV. x. 39 eye F: eyes 

50 dolts F: doits 
xiii. 11 shore F: star 

62 see, my: see my F 
V.ii.207 shalt: shall F 



I. 


ii. 


52 
L19 




iii. 


20 




iv. 


24 
75 




v. 


50 


II. i. 


31 




ii. 


57 



APPENDIX D 
Suggestions for Collateral Reading 

Sir Thomas North: Shakespeare's Plutarch. Edited 
by C. F. Tucker Brooke. Vol. II. London, 1909. 

John Dry den: All for Love: or, The World Well 
Lost. London, 1678. (Reprinted in the Variorum 
edition of H. H. Furness.) 

Horace Howard Furness: A New Variorum Edi- 
tion of Shakespeare : Antony and Cleopatra. Phila- 
delphia, 1907. (Indispensable for a study of the 
play. In addition to the notes, full accounts of stage 
productions and elaborate excerpts from criticisms 
of the play are included.) 

A. C. Bradley: Shakespeare's 'Antony and Cleo- 
patra/ Oxford Lectures on Poetry. London, 1909. 

W. Everett: Six Cleopatras. The Atlantic Monthly, 
February, 1905. 

Mrs. Anna Jameson: Characteristics of Women. 
London, 1835. 

S. T. Coleridge: Lectures and Notes on Shake- 
speare and Other English Poets. London, 1846. 
(Reprinted in the Everyman Library.) 

William Hazlitt: Characters of Shakespeare's 
Plays. London, 1817. (Reprinted in the Everyman 
Library.) 

A. C. Swinburne: A Study of Shakespeare. Lon- 
don, 1880. 

Guglielmo Ferrero: Characters and Events of 
Roman History from C&sar to Nero. 'The History 
and Legend of Antony and Cleopatra.' New York, 
1909. (An interesting study of the historical per- 
sonages.) 



INDEX OF WORDS GLOSSED 



(Figures in full-faced type refer to page-numbers) 



a': 52 (II. vii. 97) 
abstract: 66 (III. vi. 61) 
admiral: 72 (III. viii. 12) 
affect'st: 14 (I. iii. 71) 
Alcides: 103 (IV. x. 57) 
all-obeying: 82 (III. xi. 77) 
alms-drink: 48 (II. vii. 5) 
antick'd: 53 (II. vii. 132) 
approves: 3 (I. i. 60) 
Arabian bird: 56 (III. ii. 

12) 
arm-gaunt: 21 (I. v. 48) 
as: 7 (I. ii. 107) 
aspect: 20 (I. v. 33) 
aspic: 129 (V. ii. 295) 
Athens: 61 (III. iv. S. d.) 
atone: 28 (II. ii. 106) 
auguring: 22 (II. i. 10) 
authority: 46 (II. vi. 97) 
avoid: 127 (V. ii. 241) 

Bacchanals: 52 (II. vii. Ill) 
band: 47 (II. vi. 128); 57 

(III. ii. 26) 
bands: 78 (III. x. 25) 
banquet: 4 (I. ii. 13) 
battery: 53 (II. vii. 116); 

105 (IV. xii. 39) 
battle: 72 (III. viii. 8) 
become themselves: 34 (II. 

ii. 247) 
becomings: 15 (I. iii. 96) 
beggar'd: 32 (II. ii. 206) 
bench-holes: 96 (IV. vii. 9) 
bends: 33 (II. ii. 116) 
billiards: 37 (II. v. 3) 
blasted: 83 (III. xi. 105) 
blown (vb.) : 93 (IV. iv. 25) 
blown (adj.): 132 (V. ii. 

350) 



blows: 96 (IV. vi. 34) 
boar of Thessaly: 103 (IV. 

xi. 2) 
boggier: 83 (III. xi. 110) 
boot (vb.): 40 (II. v. 71) 
boot (n.) : 87 (IV. i. 9) 
bourn: 1 (I. i. 16) 
branchless: 62 (III. iv. 24) 
breese: 73 (III. viii. 24) 
broached: 10 (I. ii. 183) 
broad-fronted: 20 (I. v. 29) 
brooch'd: 111 (IV. xiii. 25) 
brows bent: 13 (I. iii. 36) 
burgonet: 20 (I. v. 24) 
but being: 101 (IV. x. 10) 
by the minute: 55 (III. i. 

20) 

cantle: 73 (III. viii. 16) 
carriage: 14 (I. iii. 85) 
cast: 56 (III. ii. 17) 
chafe: 14 (I. iii. 85) 
chance: 124 (V. ii. 173) 
chaps: 63 (III. v. 14) 
chares: 113 (IV. xiii. 75) 
charge: 69 (III. vii. 16) 
charm: 102 (IV. x. 29) 
chuck: 91 (IV. iv. 2) 
circle: 77 (III. x. 18) 
civil: 114 (V. i. 16) 
clip: 97 (IV. viii. 8); 132 

(V. ii. 360) 
clouts: 96 (IV. vii. 6) 
comes dear'd: 17 (I. iv. 44) 
comparisons: 79 (III. xi. 

26) 
competitor: 16 (I. iv. 3) 
compose: 25 (II. ii. 15) 
composure: 16 (I. iv. 22) 



152 



The Tragedy of 



conclusions: 132 (V. ii. 

356) 
conditions: 29 (II. ii. 119) 
confine: 63 (III. v. 13) 
confound: 3 (I. i. 45); 58 

(III. ii. 58) 
contemning: 64 (III. vi. 1) 
continent: 105 (IV. xii. 40) 
conversation: 47 (II. vi. 

130) 
corrigible: 107 (IV. xii. 74) 
counts: 44 (II. vi. 54) 
course: 79 (III. xi. 11) 
courser's hair: 11 (I. ii. 206) 
court of guard: 99 (IV. ix. 

2) 
crescent: 22 (II. i. 10) 
crownet: 102 (IV. x. 40) 
cuckold: 6 (I. ii. 72) 
curious: 57 (III. ii. 35) 
curstness: 25 (II. ii. 25) 

daff: 92 (IV. iv. 13) 

dealt on lieutenantrv: 75 

(III. ix. 39) 
dearth: 49 (II. vii. 22) 
declin'd: 79 (III. xi. 27) 
demuring: 111 (IV. xiii. 

29) 
denounc'd: 68 (III. vii. 5) 
deputation: 81 (III. xi. 74) 
determines: 85 (III. xi. 161) 
diminutives: 102 (IV. x. 50) 
discandying: 85 (III. xi. 

165) 
dislimns: 104 (IV. xii. 10) 
dismission: 2 (I. i. 26) 
disponge: 99 (IV. ix. 13) 
dispos'd: 109 (IV. xii. 123) 
disposition: 48 (II. vii. 8) 
distractions: 71 (III. vii. 

76) 
do his kind: 128 (V. ii. 263) 
dungy: 2 (I. i. 35) 

earing: 8 (I. ii. 120) 
effects: 131 (V. ii. 332) 



elements: 50 (II. vii. 51) 
emboss'd: 103 (IV. xi. 3) 
enf ranched: 85 (III. xi. 149) 
enfranchise: 2 (I. i. 23) 
enow: 16 (I. iv. 11) 
estridge: 86 (III. xi. 196) 
exigent: 106 (IV. xii. 63) 
expedience: 10 (I. ii. 191) 
eye well: 15 (I. iii. 97) 

factors: 43 (II. vi. 10) 
fairy: 98 (IV. viii. 12) 
fall: 70 (III. vii. 39) 
fallible: 128 (V. ii. 257) 
fame: 31 (II. ii. 169) 
fats: 53 (II. vii. 122) 
favour: 38 (II. v. 38) 
fear: 43 (II. vi. 24) 
feeders: 83 (III. xi. 109) 
figures: 56 (III. ii. 16) 
flaw: 78 (III. x. 34) 
fleet: 85 (III. xi. 171) 
flush: 17 (I. iv. 52) 
foils: 16 (I. iv. 24) 
foison: 49 (II. vii. 23) 
formal: 38 (II. v. 41) 
forspoke: 68 (III. vii. 3) 
fretted: 101 (IV. x. 21) 
from his teeth: 62 (III. iv. 
10) 

garboils: 14 (I. iii. 61) 
garlands: 4 (I. ii. 6) 
gests: 97 (IV. viii. 2) 
ghosted: 43 (II. vi. 13) 
gilded: 18 (I. iv. 62) 
glow: 32 (II. ii. 212) 
go: 6 (I. ii. 68) 
grates: 2 (I. i. 18) 
green sickness: 56 (III. ii. 
6) 

halt: 97 (IV. vii. 16) 
hap: 35 (II. iii. 32) 
haply: 80 (III. xi. 48) 
hautboys: 90 (IV. iii. 12 
S. d.) 



Antony and Cleopatra 



153 



have quarter: 91 (IV. iii. 

21) 
Herod of Jewry: 5 (I. ii. 

30) ; 59 (III. iii. 3) 
high-battled: 80 (III. xi. 

29) 
holding: 53 (II. vii. 118) 
homager: 2 (I. i. 31) 
housewife: 112 (IV. xiii. 

44) 

immoment: 124 (V. ii. 165) 
import: 30 (II. ii. 139) 
impress: 69 (III. vii. 36) 
inclination: 42 (II. v. 113) 
inclips: 51 (II. vii. 75) 
ingross'd: 69 (III. vii. 36) 
inhoop'd: 36 (II. iii. 37) 
instruction: 108 (IV. xii. 

98) 
intend: 26 (II. ii. 44) 
intrinsicate: 130 (V. ii. 

306) 
issue: 7 (I. ii. 101) 
it: 50 (II. vii. 50) 

Jack: 82 (III. xi. 93) 
jaded: 55 (III. i. 34) 
jump: 72 (III. viii. 6) 

keep the turn of: 16 (I. iv. 

19) 
known: 46 (II. vi. 83) 

Labienus: 7 (I. ii. 107) 
lack blood: 17 (I. iv. 52) 
lackeying: 17 (I. iv. 46) 
lady: 124 (V. ii. 164) 
lank'd not: 18 (I. iv. 71) 
large: 67 (III. vi. 93) 
lated: 74 (III. ix. 3) 
levell'd: 131 (V. ii. 337) 
lictors: 126 (V. ii. 213) 
lieutenantry : 75 (III. ix. 

39) 
Livia: 124 (V. ii. 168) 



loof'd: 73 (III. viii. 27) 
luxuriously: 83 (III. xi. 
120) 

main: 11 (I. ii. 204) 

make reference: 118 (V. ii. 

23) 
mandragora: 19 (I. v. 4) 
mean: 57 (III. ii. 32) 
meetly: 14 (I. iii. 81) 
mered question: 79 (III. xi. 

10) 
missive: 27 (II. ii. 78) 
modern: 124 (V. ii. 166) 
moiety: 115 (V. i. 19) 
motion: 35 (II. iii. 14) 
muss: 82 (III. xi. 91) 

narrow measures 62 (III. 

iv. 8) 
Nereides: 33 (II. ii. 214) 
nice: 86 (III. xi. 179) 
nick'd: 79 (III. xi. 8) 
nonpareil: 56 (III. ii. 11) 

oblivion: 15 (I. iii. 90) 
occasion: 48 (II. vi. 139) 
odds: 112 (IV. xiii. 66) 
o'er-count: 43 (II. vi. 26, 

27) 
o'er-picturing: 32 (II. ii. 

208) 
opinion: 23 (II. i. 36) 
oppression: 96 (IV. vii. 2) 
or: 88 (IV. ii. 5) 
ordinary: 33 (II. ii. 233) 
ostentation: 66 (III. vi. 52) 
outwork: 32 (II. ii. 209) 
owe: 98 (IV. viii. 31) 

pace easy: 27 (II. ii. 68) 
pack'd cards: 104 (IV. xii. 

19) 
pales: 51 (II. vii. 75) 
pall'd: 51 (II. vii. 89) 
palter: 76 (III. ix. 63) 
paragon: 21 (I. v. 71) 



154 



The Tragedy of 



parcel: 80 (III. xi. 32) 
parcel the sum: 124 (V. ii. 

162) 
particular: 100 (IV. ix. 20) 
partisan: 48 (II. vii. 14) 
passion: 116 (V. i. 63) 
period: 89 (IV. ii. 25) 
Philippan: 38 (II. v. 23) 
pinch: 48 (II. vii. 7) 
pink eyne: 53 (II. vii. 121) 
plated: 1 (I. i. 4) 
plates: 121 (V. ii. 92) 
pleach'd: 107 (IV. xii. 73) 
pleasure: 8 (I. ii. 133) 
points: 85 (III. xi. 157) 
pole: 112 (IV. xiii. 65) 
port: 92 (IV. iv. 23); 106 

(IV. xii. 52) 
possess: 52 (II. vii. 108) 
posture: 126 (V. ii. 220) 
practise on: 26 (II. ii. 43) 
precedence: 39 (II. v. 51) 
pregnant: 24 (II. i. 45) 
presently: 64 (III. v. 22) 
prevented: 66 (III. vi. 51) 
prize: 125 (V. ii. 182) 
process: 2 (I. i. 28) 
project: 122 (V. ii. 120) 
Promontory of Actium: 68 

(III. vii. S. d.) 
proof of harness: 98 (IV. 

viii. 15) 
property: 3 (I. i. 58) 
prorogue: 23 (II. i. 26) 
provide: 63 (III. iv. 36) 
purg'd: 109 (IV. xii. 124) 
purge: 13 (I. iii. 53) 
pursed: 32 (II. ii. 195) 

quail: 121 (V. ii. 85) 
quality: 11 (I. ii. 204) 
queasy: 65 (III. vi. 20) 
quicken: 111 (IV. xiii. 39) 
quit: 84 (III. xi. 124); 85 
(III. xi. 151) 

rack: 104 (IV. xii. 10) 



rang'd: 2 (I. i. 34) 
ranges: 79 (III. xi. 5) 
rate: 16 (I. iv. 31) 
rated: 65 (III. vi. 25) 
rates: 76 (III. ix. 69) 
raught: 100 (IV. ix. 30) 
regiment: 67 (III. vi. 95) 
reneges: 1 (I. i. 8) 
rheum: 58 (III. ii. 57) 
ribaudred: 73 (III. viii. 20) 
riggish: 34 (II. ii. 248) 
right: 102 (IV. x. 41) 
rivality: 63 (III. v. 9) 
rive: 103 (IV. xi. 5) 
riveted trim: 92 (IV. iv. 22) 
ruminated: 30 (II. ii. 145) 

saf'd: 95 (IV. vi. 26) 
safe: 13 (I. iii. 55) 
salad days: 22 (I. v. 73) 
salt: 23 (II. i. 21) 
scald: 126 (V. ii. 214) 
scotches: 96 (IV. vii. 10) 
scrupulous faction: 13 (I. 

iii. 48) 
scutcheons: 123 (V. ii. 

134) 
seal: 106 (IV. xii. 49) 
sealing: 56 (III. ii. 3) 
seel: 83 (III. xi. 112) 
semblable import: 61 (III. 

iv. 3) 
sennet: 49 (II. vii. 19 S. d.) 
shards: 57 (III. ii. 20) 
shroud: 81 (III. xi. 71) 
sirs: 113 (IV. xiii. 85) 
slime: 14 (I. iii. 69) 
smock: 10 (I. ii. 180) 
so: 41 (II. v. 94) 
spaniel'd: 102 (IV. x. 34) 
speeds: 36 (II. iii. 35) 
spoke: 31 (II. ii. 170) 
square (vb.): 24 (II. i. 45) 
square (n.) : 34 (II. iii. 6) 
squares: 75 (III. ix. 40) 
'stablishment: 64 (III. vi. 

9) 



Antony and Cleopatra 



155 



stain: 62 (III. iv. 27) 
stale: 18 (I. iv. 62) 
stanch: 29 (II. ii. 121) 
state: 26 (II. ii. 43) 
station: 60 (III. iii. 19) 
steep'd: 52 (II. vii. 114) 
still (adv.) : 36 (II. iii. 36) 
stiU (adj.): 47 (II. vi. 130) 
still conclusion: 111 (IV. 

xiii. 28) 
stomach: 26 (II. ii. 54) 
stomaching: 25 (II. ii. 9) 
'stroy'd: 76 (III. ix. 54) 
success: 63 (III. v. 6) 
su'd staying: 13 (I. iii. 33) 
sworder: 80 (III. xi. 31) 
synod: 72 (III. viii. 15) 

tabourines: 98 (IV. viii. 37) 
take in: 2 (I. i. 23) 
tall: 42 (II. vi. 7) 
target: 14 (I. iii. 82) 
Telamon: 103 (IV. xi. 2) 
terrene: 85 (III. xi. 153) 
that: 33 (II. ii. 239) 
Thetis: 70 (III. vii. 60) 
thickens: 35 (II. iii. 27) 
three-nook'd: 95 (IV. vi. 6) 
tight: 92 (IV. iv. 15) 
tinct: 20 (I. v. 37) 
tires: 38 (II. iv. 22) 
toil: 132 (V. ii. 349) 
token'd pestilence: 73 (III. 
viii. 19) 



top of all design: 115 (V. 

i. 43) 
traduc'd: 68 (III. vii. 13) 
transmigrates: 50 (II. vii. 

52) 
tribunal: 64 (III. vi. 3) 
triple: 1 (I. i. 12) 
trull: 67 (III. vi. 95) 

unfolded: 124 (V. ii. 169) 
unqualitied: 75 (III. ix. 44) 
unseminar'd: 19 (I. v. 11) 
unstate: 80 (III. xi. 30) 
up: 63 (III. v. 13) 

varletry: 119 (V. ii. 56) 
vent: 132 (V. ii. 350) 
vesper's: 104 (IV. xii. 8) 

wan'd: 23 (II. i. 21) 
wassails: 17 (I. iv. 56) 
weet: 2 (I. i. 39) 
with: 124 (V. ii. 170) 
with's: 55 (III. i. 36) 
words: 125 (V. ii. 190) 
worky-day: 6 (I. ii. 57) 
worship: 107 (IV. xii. 86) 
worthiest: 103 (IV. x. 60) 
wot'st: 20 (I. v. 22) 

yare: 69 (III. vii. 38) 
yarely: 33 (II. ii. 219) 
yield: 89 (IV. ii. 33) 
your considerate stone: 29 
(II. ii. 116) 



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